The 'change of guard' with outgoing President Stjepan Mesić took place in Zagreb's St Mark's Square under the eyes of European heads of state (Hungary, Slovenia, Poland, Macedonia, Kosovo, Bulgaria, Slovakia, Montenegro and Bosnia-Herzegovina) and diplomatic delegations from around 80 countries, including Swedish Minister for Foreign Affairs Carl Bildt, Canadian Minister of State Lynne Yelich and Chinese Minister of Culture Cai Wu.
'Mr Clean'
The new president, who is a music composer and a legal expert, has won praise at home and abroad for running on a platform advocating the rule of law and the fight against corruption. His rectitude and integrity won him the nickname 'Mr Clean' in his country (EurActiv 21/01/2010).
Yet in the diplomatic get-together occasioned by Josipović's inauguration, Serbia appears to be the elephant in the room due to the absence of its president, Boris Tadić.
Tadić boycotted the event, claiming that his presence could have been interpreted as tacit recognition of the authority of Kosovarian President Fatmir Sejdiu, who was present at today's event.
In fact, according to experts in diplomacy, this does not appear to be the case, as world leaders at major conferences simply do not talk to foreign representatives with whom they are at odds.
Serbia's Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremić provided a different explanation for the boycott, implying that Tadić had an issue with Josipović. He said that when Josipović was sending out invitations, he had already been warned by Belgrade that the presence of Sejdiu would trigger the absence of Tadić.
"The Croatian president made his decision. He decided on representatives of Kosovo and not of Serbia," Jeremić said.
Speaking to Belgrade-based FoNet, President Josipović commented: "I'm sorry that President Tadic is not coming. I think that it is a missed opportunity to start dialogue as soon as possible."
Josipović also vented his doubts about the usefulness of this form of self-imposed embargo, which prevents Serbia from taking part in fora where Kosovo is officially or unofficially represented (EurActiv 20/01/10).
The European Union was represented by the Spanish Presidency in the shape of Spanish parliament chairman Javier Roja Garcia and EU Enlargement Commissioner Štefan Füle, who is on his first visit to the Balkan region in his new capacity.
Füle's trip coincides with a tour of the region by EU foreign affairs chief Catherine Ashton, who will visit Bosnia-Herzegovina, Serbia and Kosovo.
