Congratulatory Remarks for

Opening Ceremony of the Croatian Embassy

by H.E. Lee Taeho, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of ROK

Seoul, October 24, 2018

Your Excellency Marija Pejcnovic Buric,

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign and European Affairs

of the Republic of Croatia,

Your Excellency Damir Kusen,

Ambassador of the Republic of Croatia,

Mr. Yang In-mo, Honorary Consul General of Croatia in Seoul

Distinguished Members of the Diplomatic Community in Korea,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Good Afternoon! Dobar Dan!

Today will be remembered as a historic milestone

in the chronology of diplomatic relations

between the Republic of Croatia and the Republic of Korea.

I sincerely congratulate the Government of Croatia

on the opening of its Embassy in Seoul.

My special thanks also go to

Your Excellency Marija Pejcnovic Buric.

I would like to extend my sincere appreciation to you

for having travelled all the way to Seoul to join us today.

I understand that you, Madame Minister,

had valuable discussions with my Minister earlier this afternoon

on ways to further expand and strengthen our bilateral relations.

Thank you for that.

I believe the opening of the Embassy in Korea today

is indeed an expression of the Croatian Government's strong will

for the strengthening of relations

with Korea in all fields.

My ministry will render full support for the diplomatic

and consular activities of the Croatian Embassy.

I welcome also the arrival of Ambassador Kusen

as the first resident Ambassador of Croatia to Korea.

Now Korea and Croatia have both established Embassies.

A firm foundation for the further advancement

of bilateral relations has truly been laid.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Croatia gained independence from Yugoslavia in 1991.

Overcoming the scars of the civil war after independence,

it soon established democracy

and achieved rapid economic growth.

Indeed, geopolitically there are many common elements

between Croatia and Korea.

We have both experienced foreign invasion and domination,

we have both felt the pain of civil war.

We both, with our invincible spirit,

overcome these challenges to stand where we are today.

And I believe that this common ground in our history

has served as a driving force

in the continued strengthening of our ties we have seen

since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1992.

It is noteworthy that

since Croatia joined the EU in 2013

the economic cooperation between our two countries

has shown steadfast progress.

Furthermore, people-to-people exchanges

became a hallmark of our relations,

with the number of Korean tourists visiting Croatia rising

from 20,000 in 2010 to 450,000 in 2017.

This is a remarkable figure.

In fact, the number is equivalent to about 10 percent

of the Croatian population.

Earlier in the previous month, we had further good news.

A direct air route between Seoul and Zagreb

was opened on September 1.

This has not only bridged the physical distance

between our two countries.

It has brought us closer in spirit.

With two wings,

symbolized by the opening of the Embassy in Korea today

and the opening of a direct air route,

the bilateral relations will now really take off.

Before I conclude,

I would like to congratulate Honorary Consul General Yang In-mo

on receiving a Croatian national decoration

for his contribution to the promotion of our bilateral relations.

Extending once again my heartfelt congratulations

on the opening of the Croatian Embassy in Korea,

I express my sincere wish

for the lasting prosperity of our two countries

and for enduring bonds of friendship between our two peoples.

Thank you. Cestitam.