U.S. Senator Orrin Hatch, who is President pro tempore of the Senate, on Monday received a high decoration from President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović for his outstanding contribution to Croatia's reputation and status in the United States.
I am honoured to be here in this beautiful country. It is a great country that I love and honour, Senator Hatch said receiving the Order of Duke Branimir, the president's office said in a press release.
Senator Hatch is the President pro tempore of the US Senate who acts in place of the Vice President of the United States. The U.S. Constitution provides that the Vice President of the United States is the President of the Senate (despite not being a Senator), and mandates that the Senate must choose a President pro tempore to act in the Vice President's absence.
Hatch underscored that he values and loves Croatia. He added that he was a close friend of Croatian basketball player Krešimir Ćosić who played for Brigham Young University in Utah, where Hatch comes from originally and added that Ćosić was a lovely person and his personal friend.
Senator Hatch also met with Parliament Speaker Gordan Jandroković and the two officials confirmed the high level of bilateral and friendly relations between Croatia and the USA that both countries are developing through frequent exchanges of visits at all levels.
Jandroković asked Hatch to support Croatia's bid to be covered by the U.S. Visa Waiver Program (VWP), the parliament speaker's office said in a press release. He also asked for the senator's support to efforts to have a double taxation avoidance agreement signed by Croatia and the USA.
Prime Minister Andrej Plenković met on Monday with US Senator Orrin G. Hatch for the talks on the continuation of excellent cooperation between the two countries, the government's office said in a press release. Plenković and Hatch confirmed the excellent political and friendly relations between Croatia and the USA.
The prime minister expressed his conviction in the continuation of successful political, economic and defence cooperation between the two countries within the NATO alliance. Plenković and Hatch discussed accelerating the process of visa liberalisation for Croatian citizens and the need to incorporate Croatia in the U.S. Visa Waiver Program (VWP). They advocated strengthening American investments in Croatia and in reference to energy and diversifying energy sources, they discussed the construction of an LNG terminal on Krk Island which the US supports, the press release said.
Hatch, aged 84 is the longest-serving Republican Senator in the history of the United States, having served the Senate since 1977.
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