The Washington Diplomat

Croatia
Her Excellency Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic

Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic became ambassador of Croatia to the United States on April 7, 2008.

Ambassador Grabar-Kitarovic previously served as Croatia’s minister of foreign affairs and European integration, as well as the delegation head for the negotiations over Croatia’s accession to the European Union (2005-08). In 2004, she was also appointed to serve as chairman of the Interim Committee on trade and related matters between the European Community and Croatia; delegation head for the negotiations over the Enlargement Protocol; and national aid coordinator. Prior to that, Ambassador Grabar-Kitarovic was Croatia’s minister of European integration and an elected member of the Croatian Parliament in the 7th Electoral District (2003-05).

In addition, she has served as minister counselor at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (2001-03), minister counselor and diplomatic counselor at the Croatian Embassy in Canada (1997-2000), head of the North America Department at the Foreign Affairs Ministry (1995-97), and a senior advisor to the deputy minister at the ministry (1993-95).

Ambassador Grabar-Kitarovic’s political appointments include various positions for the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) party, such as secretary-general for European integration, deputy campaign director and a member of the HDZ Presidency, National Council and Central Committee.

Ambassador Grabar-Kitarovic holds a bachelor’s degree in English, Spanish and literature, as well as a master’s in political science from the University of Zagreb. She also conducted a pre-doctoral research fellowship in international relations and security policy at George Washington University in Washington as a Fulbright scholar.
Ambassador Grabar-Kitarovic speaks English, Spanish and Portuguese, as well as some Italian, German and French.

She is married with two children.

Embassy
of Croatia
2343 Massachusetts Ave. NW
Washington, DC 20008

Tel: (202) 588-5899
Fax: (202) 588-8936