On Friday, President Zoran Milanović received Croatian diplomats on the occasion of their annual conference, so, like Prime Minister Andrej Plenković on Thursday, he asserted that Croatia's international position has never been stronger, but that Croatia must use it.

In his office, Milanović met with ambassadors, consuls general, consuls and military envoys who participated in the annual conference of Croatian diplomats in Zagreb from Wednesday, his office announced.

"Today, Croatia's position is stronger than ever, but we have to use it, not just talk about it," Milanović said. "Croatia as a country has strong instruments at its disposal, and we must behave that way," the president told the Croatian diplomats, according to the press release.

Prime Minister Plenković told the diplomats at the official opening of the conference on Wednesday in the National University Library that "we can say very clearly today that our international position has never been stronger".

Milanović discussed with the diplomats the key topics of Croatian foreign policy, with special emphasis on the relationship towards Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia, and on Croatia's position in the current crisis caused by Russian aggression against Ukraine.

Speaking about relations with Bosnia and Herzegovina, President Milanović once again emphasized the crucial importance of the Dayton Agreement as a treaty on the division of power and authority that must be respected, it was announced.

In addition to about a hundred Croatian ambassadors, consuls general, consuls and military envoys, representatives of the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs and officials of the president's office were also present at the meeting, the press release added.