PHOTOS: Croatian PM visits Los Angeles and San Pedro

Croatian community Sv. Ante in Los Angeles

The Prime Minister of Croatia, Andrej Plenković, visited the City of Los Angeles and the Community of San Pedro from Tuesday, September 24th to Thursday, September 26th.

Accompanying the Prime Minister were Foreign Minister Gordan Grlić-Radman (who shortened his stay to attend to foreign ministry business), Croatian Ambassador to the United States Pjer Šimunović, Croatian Consul General in Los Angeles Renée Pea, and Chief of Staff of the Prime Minister’s Office Zvonimir Frka-Petešić.

The Prime Minister’s itinerary included a lecture at the University of Southern California (USC), a speaking engagement at Saint Anthony Croatian Catholic Church, a ceremonial greeting at Los Angeles City Hall hosted by Councilman Tim McOsker (who represents San Pedro at City Hall), a lunch at the Croatian American Club in San Pedro, a tour of the Port of Los Angeles and AltaSea – an innovative marine research centre in San Pedro, a formal dinner hosted at the 98-year-old Dalmatian-American Club of San Pedro, and a private meeting with Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass.

With Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass (Photo: Supplied)

One of the highlights of the visit was the dinner at the Dalmatian-American Club, where over 100 guests, many of Croatian descent, gathered for the occasion. Attendees included many current and former elected and appointed officials from state, county, and city governments.

Elected officials present included California State Assemblyman Al Muratsuchi, Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice K. Hahn, Los Angeles City Councilman Tim McOsker, and City of Rancho Palos Verdes Mayor John Cruikshank.

Each elected official presented the Prime Minister with a welcoming certificate and offered comments in support of the visit, highlighting the Croatian community’s significance to the greater Los Angeles region, particularly San Pedro.

Ceremonial greeting at Los Angeles City Hall (Photo: Supplied)

This year also marks the 30th anniversary of the signing of the Split/Los Angeles Sister City Resolution on December 6, 1994.

As the program concluded, Dalmatian-American Club President and former Los Angeles City Council President Pro Tempore Rudy Svorinich, Jr. exchanged Croatian and American flag lapel pins, and the Prime Minister presented the Club and Svorinich with an official commendation of thanks from his office. During the Croatian Homeland War of the 1990s, Svorinich was responsible for delivering four surplus, fully supplied Los Angeles City ambulances and three fire trucks to assist his ancestral homeland.

Dalmatian-American Club San Pedro

President Svorinich then invited the presidents and vice-presidents of local San Pedro and Los Angeles-area Croatian organisations and clubs to join him in presenting the Prime Minister with a Croatian-themed necktie, silver cufflinks featuring the Croatian coat of arms (grb), a crystal bowl commemorating his visit, and a basketball signed by all guests, as basketball is a hobby of the Prime Minister.

In addition to Svorinich, Croatian global and local leaders presenting the gifts included American Croatian Congress President Nada Pritisanac Matulich, Croatian National Association 1st Vice-President Niko Hazdovac and 2nd Vice-President Vido Artuković, Dalmatian-American Club Youth Legacy Club President Danielle Svorinich, 1st Vice-President/Past President Bill Brownell, and Past President Augie Bezmalinovich, along with Croatian-American Club of San Pedro President Frane Jerković.

Croatian global and local leaders presented gifts

On May 6, 2026, the Dalmatian-American Club will celebrate the 100th anniversary of its founding, and next year, on August 31, 2025, it will commemorate the 90th anniversary of the Club’s grand opening. In 2023, the Club hosted a reception for Foreign Minister Gordan Grlić-Radman, and in 2010, a dinner for the President of the Croatian Republic, Ivo Josipović.