Minister: “What’s the problem?”
Kiss attack on Baerbock causes outrage
November 3rd, 2023, 11:07 p.m
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On the sidelines of a summit of European foreign ministers in Berlin, an unpleasant situation arises for the host Annalena Baerbock. As around 20 chief diplomats pose for an official photo, Croatian Minister Grlic Radman suddenly tries to kiss Baerbock, who is standing next to him.
A kiss attack by Croatian Foreign Minister Gordan Grlic Radman on Federal Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock has sparked harsh criticism in Grlic Radman’s homeland. The minister’s behavior was “highly inappropriate,” women’s rights activist Rada Boric told the newspaper “Jutarnij List.” “Forcible kissing of women is also called violence, isn’t it?” asked former head of government Jadranka Kosor on the online service X, formerly Twitter.
The 65-year-old Grlic Radman tried to kiss the Green politician on Thursday during a group photo on the sidelines of a conference of European foreign ministers in Berlin. Video footage circulating online shows Grlic Radman first extending his hand to greet Baerbock, but then suddenly leaning in for a kiss. The Federal Foreign Minister quickly turns her head away to avoid the kiss.
The Croatian Foreign Minister told reporters that he “doesn’t know what the problem is”: “We always greet each other warmly. This is a warm rapprochement between colleagues.” Women’s rights activist Boric, on the other hand, criticized that the video “clearly shows that there is no such relationship here and that the minister was surprised by such an approach.”
At Baerbock’s invitation, more than a dozen foreign ministers from European countries discussed reforms of the European Union on Thursday. At the heart of the discussions in Berlin was the question of how the EU’s ability to act can be maintained in view of the desired enlargements. According to the Foreign Office, 17 foreign ministers agreed to take part – including the heads of departments from Ukraine and Turkey. Eleven other countries were represented at state secretary level. EU members and states willing to join were invited. The European conference was organized in coordination with the Spanish Council Presidency.