Mr President,

"Honoured" and "privileged" are often over-used words.  But they genuinely reflect how I feel today about my appointment as British Ambassador to Croatia and your kindness in receiving me so graciously this morning.  

I think you know that I am devoting most of my time in September to improving my understanding of your language; and I am staying with a family in Samobor for this purpose.  

This is the reason that my wife is not with me today.  She greatly looks forward to joining me in Zagreb at the end of this month.  And we both look forward to travelling widely in this beautiful country and meeting the broadest possible cross section of society right across Croatia.

Relations between Croatia and the UK are today stronger than ever, despite Wednesday's football match!  And I will of course support in every way possible the intensification of links between our countries, governmental, economic, cultural and personal.

This is an important time for Croatia.  You are already playing a key and helpful role in this region as we seek to strengthen stability and accelerate reconciliation.  You are with us on the UN Security Council.  Your peacekeepers and police officers are playing vital roles in international missions around the world. You are in the final stages of joining us in NATO and should soon be colleagues in the EU family.  

The UK strongly supports Croatia's membership of both organisations.  We believe that in handling these accessions, Croatia can be a role model for others in the future.

How Europe has changed.  I still have strong memories of Croatia from visiting in the early 1980s.  It is already clear to me, Mr President, that you have overseen a remarkable transformation for your country.  

We believe that when Croatia is ready for membership, NATO and the EU will be ready to welcome you.

Of course there are important challenges ahead.  Our new bilateral 'Strategic Partnership' gives an excellent framework for co-operation.  We from the UK look forward to offering support and assistance to facilitate your early membership of the key Euro-Atlantic organisations.

Mr President, I look forward to my time in Croatia with great enthusiasm and with optimism about what can jointly be achieved on these important challenges working closely with our Croatian friends.

Thank you.