Foley Remarks for Credentials Ceremony

September 15, 2009

Mr. President,

It is my great honor today to present to you my letter of credence as the new Ambassador of the United States of America to the Republic of Croatia, the sixth American Ambassador to serve in Zagreb since your country's independence.

I am especially proud to be representing the United States in a country that has so recently become our ally within the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. Having served at NATO at the time when Croatia was fighting for its existence as an independent nation, I can truly appreciate the meaning of that struggle and the journey Croatia has traveled since then on the road to membership in the Alliance. Let me assure you that the United States takes seriously the responsibilities we now have towards Croatia in accordance with our treaty relationship.

We are also confident that Croatia will distinguish itself as a NATO ally ready and willing to contribute both to the security of its fellow members and to global peace. We salute your contributions to multilateral peace support operations in Afghanistan, Kosovo and elsewhere; your important role as a member of the United Nations Security Council; and your policies in support of stability and democratic development throughout the region of southeastern Europe. I look forward to deepening our security partnership in the years to come.

At the same time, the United States recognizes that the Croatian people are currently facing serious economic challenges. Both of our countries are navigating turbulent waters and seeking to introduce difficult but necessary changes in order to lay the basis for future growth and prosperity. I pledge that during my mandate I will make every effort to strengthen our economic relationship and to stand with Croatia as it seeks to become more attractive to business and indeed to harness the great entrepreneurial potential of its people in the highly competitive global economy. In this regard, we strongly support your aspirations to membership in the European Union, and the implementation of all the reforms still required to complete the accession process.

In all of these areas, we are more than allies and more than partners: we are friends, united by the values that define the Euro-Atlantic community of nations. The United States wishes Croatia every success and I look forward to playing my part in achieving our common goals.

Thank you.