ZAGREB, 26 Aug 2021 - Croatia now has the strongest position in foreign affairs since it gained independence, Prime Minister Andrej Plenković told reporters on the sidelines of a conference of Croatian diplomats in Zagreb on Thursday.
Pointing out the country's strongest status on the foreign policy front since its international recognition, the premier recalled that Zagreb's main foreign policy priorities were now admission to the Schengen area and to the euro area.
As for the current challenges, Plenković cited economic recovery from the coronavirus crisis and the developments in Afghanistan and potential migrant waves, while Parliament Speaker Gordan Jandroković cited the coronavirus pandemic, economic recovery, climate change, the developments in the Middle East, the crisis in Afghanistan and a possible migrant wave.
"Our main goal is to enter the Schengen area as soon as possible considering the developments in Afghanistan. Regarding finance and economy, it is essential to enter the euro area," Jandroković said.
The parliament speaker warned of the strengthening positions of China, India, and Brazil, and said that only concerted action by the European Union member states could render the EU a power player, notably on the global market.
Foreign Minister Gordan Grlić Radman told the press that the global order would be tested in Kabul.
"The world has become vulnerable, international law is being violated," the minister said.
Former British PM Blair special guest of the conference
During the first day of the conference, a former prime minister of the United Kingdom, Tony Blair, addressed the event, and on Wednesday he was received by Prime Minister Plenković.
Blair told the press today that his talks with the Croatian PM revolved around the importance of the success of the vaccination rollout globally.
That is the only way for us to overcome the crisis, the former British PM said.
The Plenković-Blair talks also focused on the global situation and challenges lying ahead of Croatia and the future cooperation.
Blair said that it was important for Europe to stay strong and for NATO to redefine its purpose in the present-day world.
He agrees that one of the challenges is the situation in the Middle East.
I believe that peace and stability will eventually come when good governance is established there, and when societies become open-minded and develop religious tolerance, and when people make use of the possibilities of the digital economy, he added.
Plenković said that the purpose of Blair's visit to Zagreb was establishing "potential cooperation" between Croatia and the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change.
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