MINISTER OF JUSTICE AND U.S. CHARGE D’AFFAIRES SIGN RULE-OF-LAW PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT

September 28, 2012

Minister of Justice Orsat Miljenic and U.S. Charge d’Affaires Hoyt Yee on Wednesday, September 26, signed an agreement formally establishing a new regional rule of law partnership between Croatia and the United States.  The Regional Justice Sector Initiative will strengthen rule-of-law related reforms in Southeast Europe by training criminal justice officials from around the region.  As part of the initiative, the U.S. Department of Justice will assign a U.S. prosecutor to Zagreb to assist the Government of the Republic of Croatia with this training. 

During the signing ceremony, Charge d'Affaires Yee stressed that this partnership will build on the progress the Government of Croatia has taken in recent years to bring its law enforcement and judicial systems into compliance with European standards and to promote increased respect for the rule of law.  He added the partnership also directly supports the Government of Croatia’s stated goal of sharing its expertise and experiences with its neighbors in order to assist them more fully integrate into European institutions such as the European Union.

The U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs is providing $966,000 to fund this partnership, while Croatia will make in-kind contributions such as in project development and providing trainers and training venues.