The reception was attended by many political officials and public figures, including Prime Minister Ivo Sanader, who attended the event for the third time. He offered his best wishes to the Orthodox faithful with the traditional greeting "May the Lord's peace be with you, Christ is born".
The PM thanked parliamentary deputies from the Independent Democratic Serb Party (SDSS) for their support to the government and the process of integration with the European Union.
Stating that the level of tolerance and mutual respect in Croatia had been raised, Sanader said that he, the government and the Croatian Democratic Union viewed people with different opinions or ethnic background as "an opportunity, rather than a threat".
Sanader also thanked the Social Democratic Party leader and chairman of the National Committee monitoring EU entry talks, Ivica Racan, for efforts to achieve a national consensus on Croatia's integration with the EU.
"I am glad that this is the first time during my term that the SDP leader, who is working with other parties towards reaching a national consensus and overcoming petty party interests, is here," Sanader said.
Racan responded by saying that this was not the first time he was attending such events.
"It is true that I did not attend them in my capacity as prime minister, which is how I indirectly helped the incumbent Prime Minister to make his gesture more important, particularly considering on whose behalf he was speaking," Racan said.
The guests were also welcomed by Parliament Speaker Vladimir Seks, who recalled that the Sabor would sponsor events marking the Year of Nikola Tesla, to culminate with the opening to the public of the house where Tesla was born. The house, located in Smiljani, in the central region of Lika, will be reconstructed and opened in July.
Recalling Tesla's statement that he was proud of his Serb origin and Croatian homeland, Seks said that Croatia had overcome ethnic tensions and that the time of painful problems from its past was nearing its end.
The guests were also greeted by President Mesic's advisor Sinisa Tatalovic, who wished them a merry Christmas.
SNV president Milorad Pupovac presented PM Sanader, Parliament Speaker Seks, Zagreb Mayor Milan Bandic and Croatian Helsinki Committee president Zarko Puhovski with gold-plated casts of Nikola Tesla's image, saying he hoped that Tesla would find his way into the parliament's collection of gold coins bearing the images of Croatian great men.
The guests were shown a short film on Tesla's life and the attitude of Croatian society towards this scientist before and during the war in Croatia. A bust of Tesla by sculptor Pero Jelusic was unveiled at the event.