[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 5]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 6541]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




         HONORING CROATIAN PRESIDENT IVO JOSIPOVIC

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. ELTON GALLEGLY

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                          Tuesday, May 3, 2011

  Mr. GALLEGLY. Mr. Speaker, I would first like to thank Croatian 
President Ivo Josipovic for traveling to the United States and taking 
part in the Congressional Croatian Caucus kick-off event.
  Although President Josipovic has been in office for little over a 
year, his record in promoting an environment of genuine regional 
dialogue, better mutual understanding, across-the-board cooperation, 
and a Euro-Atlantic perspective for the whole of South East Europe has 
been noteworthy.
  Since taking office he has pursued the path of regional 
reconciliation, a policy that has been matched with concrete action. 
For example, President Josipovic expressed regret for all the victims 
of the tragic events of the 1990s irrespective of their ethnic 
background, religious identity, or country of origin. He has also 
pursued open dialogue with all the key partners in the region of South 
East Europe, but in particular with Serbian and Bosnian and 
Herzegovinian high officials.
  His efforts at promoting the eventual membership of all the countries 
in the region into the EU and NATO, have been widely recognized. 
President Josipovic's effort in realizing ``Europe, whole, free and at 
peace'' is acknowledged and has been highly commended by the 
Administration and prominent members of Congress, as it complements 
U.S. efforts in that part of the world.
  Croatia's two-year-long record of NATO membership already bears his 
mark. President Josipovic showed strong leadership and responsibility 
at the December 2010 NATO summit in Lisbon, in regard to Croatian 
contributions to NATO led peace-keeping missions. Moreover, he has 
offered his strong support to Allied efforts in Afghanistan, where 
Croatian troops and experts assist in transitioning this country to 
stability and security, using its own capabilities, which was clearly 
expressed on his recent visit to Kabul.
  Again, on behalf of the Congressional Croatian Caucus, I would like 
to welcome President Josipovic to the United States and for his role in 
building a closer friendship between our two nations.

                          ____________________