Ms. Vesna Pusić has been appointed as Croatia’s Foreign Minister in the center-left government headed by Zoran Milanović, which took power after the elections held on 4 December 2011. Ms. Pusić is one of the most prominent members of the liberal Croatian People’s Party. After becoming involved in politics in the early 1990s, Ms. Pusić served three consecutive terms in the Croatian Parliament following the 2000, 2003, and 2007 elections. During her 2008–2011 term, she chaired the parliamentary committee for tracking the progress of Croatia’s accession negotiations with the European Union.
Statement by Niccoló Figa-Talamanca, Secretary-General of No Peace Without Justice:
“No Peace Without Justice (NPWJ) and the Nonviolent Radical Party, Transnational and Transparty (NRPTT) welcome the appointment of Vesna Pusić as the new Minister of Foreign Affairs of Croatia, which confirms Croatia’s commitment to closing accounts with the past and anchoring itself ever more firmly to the European Union.
“The appointment of Ms. Pusić, who is known as an outspoken human rights defender and a vocal advocate of European integration, further strengthens the path chosen by Croatia towards the assertion of the rule of law, justice and full accountability before the international community and, most importantly, its own citizens.
“We are certain that Ms. Pusić’s contribution will ensure the successful completion by Croatia of the ratification process of the EU Accession Treaty and conclude the final phase of the lengthy and painstaking path to making Croatia the 28th member of the European Union in 2012.”
For further information, contact Nicola Giovannini on ngiovannini@npwj.org or +32-2-548-3914.
