Press Releases
Cancellation of Congressional Delegation
For Immediate Release
October 17, 2005
Zagreb, Croatia, October 17, 2005 - The U.S. Embassy denies claims published in Jutarnji list and Slobodna Dalmacija concerning the recent postponement of a U.S. Congressional visit to Croatia. The visit, which was planned in cooperation with the Croatian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, was canceled due to logistical complications and the strict requirements governing Congressional travel. As a result of late cancellations by individual participants, the delegation did not meet the minimum number of five members required for travel on a military aircraft, and for this reason the trip was canceled. Suggestions that the cancellation resulted from individual legal issues or that traveling members are "convicts" are completely false.
Visits to countries abroad are a vital part of the oversight that members of Congress exercise over U.S. foreign policy, and the Embassy strongly supports this critical element of our bilateral relationship.