ZAGREB, June 24, 2018 - On the occasion of Croatia's Statehood Day, observed on June 25, President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović has received congratulations to all Croatian citizens from numerous statesmen, including Pope Francis, US President Donald Trump, Russian President Vladimir Putin and the heads of several European states, her office said on Sunday.
In his note, Pope Francis voiced hope that commitment to justice and peace will enable the building of a society in which every person can find their place, serenity and happiness.
President Trump says that US-Croatia partnership continues to grow stronger, both within NATO, where the two countries' troops stand shoulder to shoulder, defending the common freedom, and in the economy and culture. He adds that every year more and more Americans discover Croatia's beauties and that the US is open to Croatian students, investors and entrepreneurs in their efforts to turn their dreams of a stronger and more prosperous future into reality.
President Putin has said that Russia attaches great significance to cooperation with Croatia and believes that, with joint efforts, they can build mutually useful cooperation to the benefit of their peoples, in the interest of maintaining stability and security in Europe.
In his note, German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier underlines that Germany and Croatia are closely linked, that nurturing bilateral relations and politically shaping the European Union remains their task, and that this joint pushing for the benefit of the two countries, their citizens and Europe will be evident not just symbolically but also concretely in 2020, when the two countries will succeed each other in chairing the Council of the EU, which he says will additionally strengthen cooperation.
Hungarian President Janos Ader said the partnership and friendship of Hungary and Croatia has a remarkable history which makes it unique in the region in many ways. He is confident the two countries can contribute, through joint action, to forming Europe's future and increasing the economic and political weight of their region.
Slovak President Andrej Kiska has said he is glad the two countries are successfully continuing to develop close and friendly relations reflected in a strong partnership and alliance in the EU and NATO. He is confident the upcoming NATO summit will be an opportunity to strengthen common security and remember shared values.
In his note, Italian President Sergio Mattarella says Grabar-Kitarović's visit recent official visit to Italy confirmed the excellent bilateral relations. He adds that the strong ties between Zagreb and Rome, which are even stronger after the renewal in January of the coordinating committee of the two governments' ministers and the constant contribution of the two respective minorities, provide another opportunity to deepen relations through NATO and the commitment to EU enlargement.
The Governor-General of Australia Sir Peter John Cosgrove recalls in his note meeting with Grabar-Kitarović when she visited his country last August. He says Australian Croats have enriched Australian society, providing the foundations for the strengthening of academic, business and cultural exchange.
Congratulations to Croatian citizens on the occasion of Statehood Day have also come from presidents Alexander Van der Bellen of Austria, Prokopios Pavlopoulos of Greece, E. Alain Berset of Switzerland, Abdel Fattah el-Sisi of Egypt, Enrique Pena Nieto of Mexico, Nursultan Nazarbayev of Kazakhstan, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow of Turkmenistan, Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa, Abdelaziz Bouteflika of Algeria, Miguel Mario Diaz-Canel Bermudez of Cuba, Moon Jae-in of South Korea, Abdul Hamid of Bangladesh and Michel Aoun of the Lebanon.
Congratulations have also been sent by kings Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden, Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands, Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa of Bahrein and Abdullah II Ibn Al-Hussein of Jordan, Emperor Akihito of Japan and Sultan Qaboos bin Said Al Said of Oman.
