FM meets Los Angeles’ Croatian community

(Photo: Nada Pritisanac Matulich)

ZAGREB, 19 Sept (Hina/CW) – Croatian Foreign Minister Gordan Grlić Radman met with the Croatian community in Los Angeles over the weekend, thanking them for strengthening ties with the United States, the Foreign Ministry said in a press release.

The minister also met with representatives of the business community of the US and Croatia, and pointed out that Croatia today has a business-oriented environment, as well as an efficient, innovative, highly qualified workforce, a favourable geostrategic position and attractive incentives.

He pointed out that there is room for strengthening economic cooperation. Considering all the potential – excellent macroeconomic indicators in Croatia, the credit rating upgrade, membership of the eurozone and the Schengen area, the process of accession to the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development, Croatia’s entry into the American Visa Waiver Program – the interlocutors are agreed that trade and investment exchanges will grow, making Croatia more attractive to American investors, the press release said.

They also discussed the ratification of the Double Taxation Treaty, which they described as vital, and economic cooperation between the two countries.

President of the American Dalmatian Club, Rudy Svorinich, a former council member for the 15th district of Los Angeles in two terms, welcomed all representatives and officials of the city of Los Angeles.

Additionally, Ted Lieu, who has represented California’s 36th congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives since 2023, Steven Craig Bradford, who is currently serving in the California State Senate, Albert Yasuro Maratsuchi, a Japanese-American attorney serving in the California State Assembly, and many other distinguished and respected guests were in attendance, including Ambassador of the Republic of Croatia to the USA, Pjer Simunovic, and the Consul General of the Republic of Croatia in Los Angeles, Renee Pea.

(Photo: Nada Pritisanac Matulich)

Representatives of prominent Croatian organizations and associations in Southern California and representatives of the global organization American Croatian Congress (ACC) were also among the honored guests.

Roko Blazevic sang both the American and Croatian national anthems. Representatives from government institutions, Croatian organizations, and associations presented Minister Grlić Radman with welcome certificates and expressed their hope that he feels comfortable in the city.

(Photo: Nada Pritisanac Matulich)

Rudy Svorinich, on behalf of the Dalmatian American Club, presented Minister Grlić Radman with two ties as a reminder of his first visit to Los Angeles and his time with the Croatians of Southern California. He emphasized that both ties share the same colors – red, white, and blue – symbolizing the connection between Croatia and the United States. The only difference between them lies in the coat of arms imprinted on the ties.

(Photo: Nada Pritisanac Matulich)

Following the formal dinner, a brief working meeting took place with representatives of the American Croatian Congress (ACC), who also represent the ACAP for Southern California. Nada Pritisanac Matulich, the President of ACC, Miroslav Koletic, the Director for Economy at ACC, and Linda Govel, the Director for Culture at ACC, introduced the Minister to a global project in partnership with ACC, ACAP, and Crodiaspora, titled “Hrvati ujedinjeni kravatom” (Croatians United by the Tie). 

(Photo: Nada Pritisanac Matulich)

On this occasion, she gifted him a book of the same name that follows the project and invited the Minister to the exhibition in Pula next month, commemorating Tie Day and the 20th anniversary of Pula’s tie entry into the Guinness World Records. This will be the last exhibition in Croatia for now, as it will embark on a multi-year tour of world universities, the United Nations, and the EU Parliament after Pula.

(Photo: Nada Pritisanac Matulich)

The following day, Minister Grlić Radman held a meeting with business leaders, Croatian immigrants, and attended Mass at the Parish of St. Anthony in Los Angeles.

Grlić Radman will be in New York this week for the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly. Earlier, he visited Seattle where he met with the Croatian business community and local officials.