Distinguished Representatives of the Government of the Republic of Croatia, Distinguished Representatives of the Ministry of Science, Education, and Youth,

I extend my most sincere congratulations on this historic milestone for the Republic of Croatia—the official accession to the Artemis Accords and the securing of support from the United States of America on our shared journey into space. This significant diplomatic and strategic success serves as a strong validation and a natural continuation of the outstanding efforts that the Croatian scientific community and domestic industry have invested over the years in developing the national space sector. It is of the utmost importance that the doors to global cooperation are opening wider and that the Republic of Croatia continues to strengthen its partnership with the largest and most advanced actors in space exploration.

The Artemis Accords represent a modern global framework for the peaceful, sustainable, and transparent exploration of the Moon, Mars, and other celestial bodies. In the broader context of international law, they directly build upon and operationalize the fundamental principles of the 1967 Outer Space Treaty, as well as other vital United Nations conventions to which Croatia is already a signatory. While earlier treaties established the legal and ethical foundations for the peaceful use of space, the Artemis Accords provide a practical roadmap for a new era of international cooperation, scientific data exchange, and interoperability in the 21st century.

By joining this exclusive circle of signatory states, Croatia not only reaffirms its commitment to the highest international standards but also stands on equal footing with the world’s leading nations. For our homeland, this marks a transition from being an observer to becoming an active participant in the most ambitious technological endeavor of our time, thereby further solidifying our geopolitical legitimacy and our status as a reliable partner on the global stage.

We are deeply convinced that this historic agreement will advance Croatian science in the long term, stimulate innovation within the domestic high-tech industry, and open entirely new horizons for our educational system. This exceptional national success is fully complementary to our long-standing efforts in strengthening the domestic space sector, systematically bringing together prominent individuals and innovative companies, and executing all our ongoing activities and established international agreements.

With great optimism, we look forward to an even deeper collaboration with all stakeholders in this process. We firmly believe that they, led by you and our international partners, will be esteemed guests and key interlocutors at future Brijuni conferences, where we will jointly deliberate and shape the future course of Croatian space initiatives.

With the sincere hope that the signing of these agreements will yield numerous successful projects for the benefit of Croatian society as a whole, I once again congratulate you on this remarkable achievement and your vision for future development.