On Thursday, May 29th, H.E. Mrs. Vesela Mrden Korac, Ambassador of the Republic of Croatia to the State of Israel, and Mr. Yossi Landesman, Honorary Consul of the Republic of Croatia, hosted a reception at the Ambassador’s residence in honor of Croatia’s National Day. The event brought together ambassadors, military personnel, and members of the Israeli government.
Upon arrival, guests were offered a selection of fine wines, mineral water, sodas, and appetizers. The official ceremony followed, beginning with the playing of Lijepa Naša Domovino, the Croatian national anthem, followed by Hatikvah, the Israeli national anthem.
H.E. Mrs. Vesela Mrden Korac opened her speech by warmly welcoming everyone in attendance. She then expressed her gratitude in fluent Hebrew, extending special thanks to Mr. Yossi Landesman, the First Consul of the Republic of Croatia in Israel. Ambassador Korac began by highlighting Croatia's remarkable post-war development. After three and a half decades, Croatia is now a proud member of the EU, NATO, the Eurozone, and the Schengen Area, and is currently in the final stages of joining the OECD. She emphasized Croatia's strong political and technical support for Israel, expressing deep appreciation for the enduring partnership between the two nations. In 1997 Croatia established their diplomatic relations with Israel, but the Jewish-Croatian history goes back for centuries, with the earliest evidence of Jewish presence during the Roman Empire, and the oldest still in use synagogue in Europe paying tribute to the deep roots of Jewish heritage within Croatia’s national story.
As a member of the IRA, Croatia is committed to holocaust education, combating anti-semitism, preserving Jewish life as an act of justice and truth that shapes the democratic values Croatians uphold today and as a moral duty. Ambassador Korac also emphasized the embassy’s close cooperation with Yad Vashem as they contribute to strengthening their education and legal framework for combating anti semitism. The ambassador noted that there has been no noticeable rise in anti-Semitic incidents in Croatia. Since October 7th, Croatia has been recognized as one of the safest countries in the world.
Looking at other areas of bilateral relations, there has been steady growth in cooperation across defense and cyber security, tourism, trade, the startup ecosystem, innovation, and academic and cultural exchanges. In recognition of the presence of Minister of Culture and Sports Miki Zohar, the Ambassador noted that their new biannual cooperation program is ready to be renewed. She also highlighted that, following the establishment of a bilateral strategy between the foreign ministries at the end of 2020, regular dialogue has been fostered, including exchanges and visits by foreign ministers. This has led to the opening of new areas of cooperation, all grounded in mutual respect and a shared commitment to deepening the friendship between their nations. On the 7th of October, Croatia strongly condemned the Hamas attack expressing its solidarity to the state of Israel and its people, supporting Israel's right to live in peace and security and strongly advocating un conditional release of Israeli hostages.
Croatia, who also experienced its own war with 1792 missing persons still 30 years after the war, deeply sympathizes with each hostage, their families and friends also with all innocent victims of this war; wishing that dialogue and diplomatic solutions will replace current agonies of war enabling sustainable peace, security and stability for Israel. The ambassador concluded her speech by thanking her very small but effective embassy team that have been working under very high pressure on daily paises maintaining positive approach and great spirit, and everyone who came to honor Croatia and for continuously supporting the work of the embassy. Following the speech, a toast was raised for the friendship between Croatia and Israel.
Mr. Miki Zohar, the Minister of Culture and Sport, expressed his deep appreciation for the growing relationship between Israel and Croatia, emphasizing the importance of this friendship. He highlighted how Croatia’s immediate support for Israel on October 7th was a testament to their strong bond. “We are not fighting to save our lives; we are fighting against the most dangerous terror organizations in the world,” he stated, referring to Hezbollah as the largest threat, followed by Hamas and Iran. He warned that if Israel loses this war, Europe could be next. Minister Zohar stressed that people must understand that Israel is fighting the “fight of the free world,” as the country seeks peace and cooperation with nations around the globe. “First and foremost, we must defend ourselves,” he added, emphasizing that Israel’s relationship with Croatia is vital for the preservation of freedom worldwide. He expressed hope that the knowledge and expertise of both countries would combine to make a positive impact on various sectors, including agriculture, sports, culture, and security. As Minister of Culture and Sport, Zohar underscored the importance of combating anti-Semitism globally, thanking Croatia for its unwavering commitment to supporting Israel in this effort. “The events of October 7th remind us of the challenges faced by the Jewish people, but also of our strength and resilience in standing against our enemies,” he continued. “We cannot forget the 58 hostages currently held in Gaza. We want them home.”
General Itzik Oz, Southern District Commander of the Fire and Rescue Department for Israel Authority , began by sharing that on October 7th, his department tragically lost 10 members. Addressing the Ambassador of Croatia and the Consul, he opened his speech by expressing his pleasure at being part of this ceremony. He noted that he is usually called to speak during times of crisis, but today was different—it was a celebration of Croatia, and he was honored to be part of it. He highlighted that both Israel and Croatia celebrate their independence in May, underscoring the importance of protecting both our people and our future.
Recalling a recent event, he mentioned how, just two weeks ago, a wildfire near Jerusalem saw Croatia standing side by side with Israel, helping to save lives and preserve nature. This act of support, he stated, was a powerful symbol of friendship, one that Israelis would not forget. He urged that cooperation between the two nations should extend beyond emergencies, suggesting that Israel and Croatia could share technological innovations, exchange ideas, and train together. Mr. Oz concluded his speech by thanking Croatia not only for its assistance but also for its strong and enduring friendship. "Let’s continue building a solid connection between our countries, from the heart and for our future," he said.
A guest from a kibbutz in northern Israel expressed sincere gratitude to Ambassador Mrs. Vesela Mrden Korac, acknowledging the invaluable support extended by the Croatian Union and Embassy. He also conveyed his deep appreciation to Croatia for its generous offer to host sporting events for Israelis. As a token of respect and gratitude, he presented the Ambassador with a friendship shield. He concluded with the powerful words: "Tough times create tough people."
Diplomacy.co.il congratulates the embassy and the people of Croatia on their national day and offers best wishes for a prosperous relationship going forward.
