UN agencies in Croatia chose Petrinja, 60 kilometres southeast of Zagreb, for this event because it is a town in an area of special state concern and the choice is aimed at raising awareness of development challenges Croatia is facing and is also an act of acknowledgement of the achievements of returnees in the formerly war-stricken areas.
Josipovic recalled that after gaining its independence in 1992, Croatia received assistance from the World Organisation in its efforts to stop the war, protect people and their property and promote freedom and democracy.
The UN plays a great international role and its goals are the same as 65 years ago, he said referring to the UN Charter which went into force on 24 October 1945.
Croatia, which accepted the UN Chapter, is now on the threshold of the European Union, and the Union's tenets of freedom, rights and equality are in accordance with UN tenets, the president said, adding that his country had accepted the principles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and incorporated them into its constitution.
Vinton spoke about the great progress Croatia had made transforming from a recipient of UN assistance to a participant in UN peace missions.