Croatian President Zoran Milanovic rejected Israel’s proposed ambassador to Zagreb over the policies of the current Israeli government and what he described as a breach of diplomatic protocol, according to statements released on 19 May by the Croatian presidency.
“The proposed Ambassador of the State of Israel has not received, nor will he receive, the consent of the President of the Republic Zoran Milanović,” the president’s office said in a statement.
The Croatian presidency said it had previously avoided public comment on ambassadorial nominations in line with diplomatic practice.
It accused Israel of violating an “unwritten rule” by publicly announcing the nominee before receiving formal approval from Zagreb.
“In light of this action by the Israeli side,” the office said, the president confirmed the nominee would not be approved, linking his decision to the “policies pursued by the current Israeli authorities.”
Israeli media identified the nominee as Nissan Amdur, who was appointed to replace outgoing ambassador Gary Koren, and is now expected to arrive in Croatia as chargé d’affaires, a diplomatic posting that does not require presidential approval.
The Israeli Foreign Ministry said it was working with Croatian officials to “resolve the matter of the status of Israel’s next ambassador in Zagreb,” according to the Times of Israel.
Milanovic, who has repeatedly condemned Israel’s atrocities in Gaza, saying that “there is not cooperation with Israel as far as the Croatian Army is concerned,” adding that Israeli actions in Gaza amounted to “a brutal policy” and “horrific, unprecedented disregard for humanitarian law and humanity.”
The Croatian president also defended the decision as a sovereign prerogative of his office, saying that “granting or withholding of consent for proposed ambassadors is a sovereign right” of the presidency.
The reports said it is the first time a Croatian president has refused approval for an ambassadorial appointment.
Leave a Reply