The Centre for the Renewal of Culture (Centar za obnovu kulture – COK) marked the Centenary of the birth of the great British stateswoman and friend of the Croatian people, Margaret Thatcher, with the conference ‘Margaret Thatcher 1925-2025’ held on 27 October 2025. This report contains the recordings of all presentations given at the conference.
Presentations from the conference “Margaret Thatcher 1925-2025”
The recordings of the presentations from the conference ‘Margaret Thatcher 1925-2025’ can also be found on the official YouTube channel of the Centre for the Renewal of Culture. Before the presentations commenced, Dr Robin Harris, President of COK, delivered an opening address to the participants, accompanied by several photographs and recordings showcasing Mrs. Thatcher’s support for the Croatian people during the Homeland War.
The first presentation was subsequently delivered by John O’Sullivan, a close associate of Mrs. Thatcher, one of her speechwriters, and President of the Danube Institute. His presentation analysed the special relationship that existed between the United Kingdom and the USA, with a particular emphasis on her relationship with Ronald Reagan.
The second presentation was given by another close associate and President of COK, Robin Harris. He reflected on Mrs. Thatcher as a political leader in Britain, challenging three main criticisms levelled against her by her opponents and highlighting that, shortly after her death, she was proclaimed the greatest post-war British Prime Minister, surpassing even Churchill.
Keith Miles, who was formerly the Representative of the Republic of Slovenia in the United Kingdom until its official recognition in 1992, delivered the third presentation on the achievements of the Thatcher era. He particularly emphasised her courage in supporting the right to self-determination for nations such as Slovenia, contrary to the pro-Serbian stance of the British establishment.
The fourth and final presentation in the first part was delivered by Marek Matraszek, a political consultant and former Representative of the Margaret Thatcher Foundation for Central Europe. He sought to describe the global and historical significance of Margaret Thatcher, focusing on her role in the fall of Communism. He also touched upon the influence of her legacy on political policies in Central Europe today.
The Influence of Mrs. Thatcher During the Fight for Independence of Croatia, Slovenia, and BiH
Following a short break, the second part of the conference commenced. This section comprised presentations that more closely detailed Mrs. Thatcher’s influence during the process of gaining independence for Croatia, Slovenia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina. The first speaker in the second part was the former Minister of Foreign Affairs and Advisor to the Prime Minister, Dr Mate Granić. He described the clear support for Croatia’s independence and territorial integrity given by Mrs. Thatcher during the Homeland War.
Alojz Peterle, Prime Minister of Slovenia from 1990 to 1992, also shared his experiences. His personal memory of Mrs. Thatcher’s immediate and resolute support for Slovenia during the key moments of its independence remains very vivid. He described the concrete steps she took at the time.
Although Dr Drago Štambuk, former Diplomatic Representative of Croatia to the United Kingdom, was unable to attend the conference, a speech he had prepared for the occasion was read. He recounted several situations that clearly demonstrated her understanding of the predicament Croatia faced and the resulting support she lent to Croatian independence.
The final presentation before the panel was delivered by Dr Ejup Ganić, former member of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina. He shared his testimony regarding her important role in the independence of Bosnia and Herzegovina, emphasising her prudence and foresight. Furthermore, he highlighted her assistance in the establishment of the first private university in BiH.
The closing panel featured the three speakers from the second part of the conference. Mate Ćurić, the Secretary of the Centre for the Renewal of Culture, moderated the panel. The discussion focused on the lessons Mrs. Thatcher could offer to modern politicians, the Dayton Agreement, and the major powers’ contemporary misunderstanding of the true situation in the former Yugoslavia.
How to Receive Notifications on New COK Videos
All presentations at the conference were delivered in English. A detailed summary of the presentations is available in this report. You may also enable the automatic translation to most languages on YouTube by clicking on the CC icon in the bottom right corner.
If you wish to sign up for notifications about new videos on the Centre for the Renewal of Culture’s channel, you may do so here.
