Jurica stressed that the most important political forces in Croatia were working towards the advancement of democracy and market economy.
Speaking about Croatia's foreign policy, Jurica said that all Croatian governments, regardless of which parties and coalitions they were coming from, were oriented towards achieving two strategic objectives -- Croatia's joining NATO and the EU.
He said that both President Stjepan Mesic and Prime Minister Ivo Sanader were intensively working and cooperating in order to realise the two objectives.
Jurica said Croatia was ready to become an example to other countries in Southeast Europe in the development of democracy, human rights and the strengthening of stability, but added that the country did not want to become a hostage of the region in the process of drawing closer to Euro-Atlantic associations. He stressed Croatia counted on the assessment based on individual merits of each country as the creteria for joininh the European Union and NATO.
Also speaking at the meeting were the ambassadors of Slovenia and Ukraine and a diplomatic representative of Taiwan.