ZAGREB, June 27, 2019 - At the beginning of his cabinet meeting on Thursday morning, Prime Minister Andrej Plenković again extended his congratulations to Foreign and European Affairs Minister Marija Pejčinović Burić on her election as the 14th secretary general of the Council of Europe.
"This is the biggest international, political and diplomatic success considering the election of any Croatian representative to international institutions," Plenković said.
"I think that we can be proud of the minister's success and of the broad backing she gained. We can be proud of Croatia's international position and reputation in foreign affairs and values we share," the premier said.
On Wednesday, the Parliamentary Assembly in Strasbourg elected Pejčinović Burić Secretary General of the Council of Europe for a five-year term. In the first round of the election the Croatian minister obtained 159 votes, an absolute majority, and the other shortlisted candidate Belgian Foreign Minister Didier Reynders won 105 votes. Pejčinović Burić is the second women to become the secretary-general of this organisation in its 70-year-long history.
Plenković said that Pejčinović Burić 's success could be perceived also as the victory of east and southeast Europe, as she is the first CoE Secretary General from that part of the continent.
The premier thanked all Croatian ambassadors and parliamentary delegations for their contribution to this success.
He reiterated that Croatia had made a good impression during its six-month chairmanship of this organisation last year.
While coming to the government meeting, several ministers told the press outside Government House that they congratulated Pejčinović Burić on her election to the new post.
Education Minister Blaženka Divjak said that this "is a good message to young people, notably to young girls, considering the fact that she is the second woman to be at the helm of the Council of Europe." "This is also encouragement that the glass ceiling can be broken," said Divjak.
The ministers declined to speculate who can succeed Pejčinović Burić in the post of the country's foreign minister. She assumes her new duties in October.
More news about the Council of Europe and Croatia can be found in the Politics section.
