State Visit to Croatia

Two days after finishing their 2-day State Visit to Slovenia, King Harald and Queen Sonja began their State Visit to Slovenia’s bordering country, Croatia.
They were welcomed by Croatia’s President Ivo Josipović and Dr Tatjana Josipović outside the Presidential Palace in Zagreb on May 12th. The visit started with an official reception and the exchanging of gifts at the Palace – called Villa Zagorje.

Later the day King Harald met with the President of the Croatian Parliament and the Prime Minister while Queen Sonja and Dr. Josipović had a seperate program which focused on cultural exchange between Norway and Croatia.
The Queen had a guided tourat Villa Prekrižjem and also visited the Mimara Museum, where she opened an exhibition.

Queen Sonja was also having a guided tour at the Ivan Meštrović Gallery, a famous sculptors of the 1900s.
The same time King Harald and the Norwegian delegation attended a business seminar.
In the evening the King and Queen attended an official dinner hosted by the President of Croatia.

On day 2 the Royal couple visited Šibenik on the coast of Dalmatia, where the King opened a maritime centre. There Norwegian and Croatian authorities will work together with the goal to develop the maritime sector in Croatia.
Afterwards the Royal couple attended the Nautical Center Prgin, where Queen Sonja christened 2 boats belonging to a Norwegian company.

After that the King and Queen visited the historic town of Šibenik, where they had a guided tour on a sailing boat.
Later they also had a guided tour of the cities’s cathedral.
The State Visit was officially concluded after an official luncheon.

A thread about the State Visits to Slovenia and Croatia can be found here.

Filed under Norway
Tagged Croatia, Harald V of Norway, President Josipović of Croatia, Queen Sonja of Norway, State Visit.