Earlier today, Reuters reported that Croatian Foreign Minister Davor Ivo Stier will be the only foreign minister not to attend a meeting organized by US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson in Washington, but Croatian Foreign Ministry has denied Reuters’ report.
Croatian Foreign Minister Davor Ivo Stier will attend a meeting of ministers of the global coalition against ISIL with US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson in Washington, confirmed Croatian Foreign Ministry, denying Reuters report from earlier today which said that Tillerson would meet with all ministers of the global coalition, with the exception of Croatia, reports Večernji List on March 21, 2017.
After Reuters reported that Croatian Foreign Minister Stier will be the only one not attending the meeting organized by the US Secretary of State, the Ministry issued an official statement. “Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Davor Ivo Stier will participate in the meeting of foreign ministers of member states of the global coalition for the fight against ISIL, which will be held on Wednesday in Washington. During his stay in Washington, Minister Stier will hold meetings in Congress, and will meet with representatives of the Croatian community. Minister Stier, together with foreign ministers of the Adriatic Trilateral Ditmir Bushati and Darmanović, will participate in a panel organized by the Atlantic Council at which ministers will discuss the perspectives of security challenges facing Southeast Europe. At the Heritage Foundation, Minister Stier will give a lecture ‘The importance of the transatlantic partnership for stability in Europe – Croatian view’”, announced the Ministry.
US Embassy in Zagreb reacted to the statement by a post on Twitter: “The United States is pleased that Foreign Minister Stier will be in Washington at Counter-ISIL ministerial meetings. Croatia is an important counter-ISIL coalition partner and NATO ally.”
This will be the first official joint meeting of a high-ranking Croatian official with the new US Secretary of State. Defence Minister Krstičević attended a meeting of NATO defence ministers last month, which was also attended by new US Defence Secretary Mattis. Also last month, President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović met very briefly with US Vice President Pence at a security conference in Munich, Germany.
According to today’s reports in international media, US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson plans to miss the meeting of NATO foreign ministers on 5 and 6 April due to a visit of Chinese President to the United States. In mid-April, he will probably travel to Russia, according to US officials. NATO allies could interpret this move as putting interests of Moscow ahead of their own.
Tillerson intends to miss his first meeting in Brussels with 28 NATO members to attend talks between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping at a Trump resort in Florida, according to four current and former US officials.
