New U.S. Ambassador to Croatia presents credentials to Croatian president
- by croatiaweek
- in News
U.S. Ambassador to Croatia Nathalie Rayes (Photo credit: Office of the President of Croatia/ Marko Beljan)
The President Croatia, Zoran Milanović, received the credentials of the new Ambassador of the United States of America to Croatia, Nathalie Rayes on Thursday in Zagreb.
Rayes presented her credentials to the President Milanović today and was accompanied by her husband, Ambassador Tarek Samad, the sons of the Ambassador, Julian Samad and Alexander Samad, Deputy Ambassador Mark Fleming, Defense Attaché Brigadier Scott McLearn, and Press and Cultural Advisor Danielle Harms, the Office of the President said.
Alongside President Milanović were Neven Pelicarić, Advisor to the President of Croatia for Foreign and European Policy, Petar Mihatov, Director of the Directorate for Political Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs, and Ivan Mutavdžić, Secretary of the Cabinet for Foreign and European Policy of the Office of the President of the Republic.
Originally from Venezuela, Nathalie Rayes immigrated to the United States at a young age. She has achieved a historic milestone as the first Venezuelan American and the only Latina to serve as the U.S. Ambassador to a non-Latino country.
U.S. Ambassador to Croatia Nathalie Rayes and President Milanović (Photo credit: Office of the President of Croatia/ Marko Beljan)
Rayes, a former Chair and Vice-Chair of the Hispanic Federation’s board of directors, was appointed by President Joe Biden in 2022 to serve as a board member of the United States Institute of Peace.
Rayes has contributed her expertise to various national nonprofit boards.
U.S. Ambassador to Croatia Nathalie Rayes and President Milanović (Photo credit: Office of the President of Croatia/ Marko Beljan)
In a public statement following her swearing-in ceremony, Ambassador Rayes expressed humility and gratitude for the confirmation, pledging to lead with integrity and in the best interests of her country while fostering stronger diplomatic ties with the people of Croatia.
