The decision of the EU Council of Ministers to open entry talks with Croatia is the confirmation of the political maturity and responsibility of Croatia in its efforts to meet EU political and economic criteria, Seks said.
During his speech, he recalled 8 October 1991, when the Croatian parliament convened in the basement of the headquarters of the INA company, due to danger that the parliament building might be shelled by the JNA army, and made the historic decision to sever state and legal connections with the then Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
"That day is one of the biggest and most significant dates in Croatia's recent history. Croatia embarked on a historic path towards the realisation of a centuries-long dream of the Croatian people about its independent state in the heart of Europe, where Croatia has always belonged," the Sabor Speaker said.
Commenting on the EU decision to launch membership talks with Croatia, Seks said that it marked the start of a new period for Croatian society.
"Croatia's road towards EU membership is still far from its finish, but conclusions of the EU Council of Ministers confirm that the Croatian state policy is correct and that Croatia's efforts and the establishment of a European Croatia will end in success in the near future," he added.
He said that Croatia would continue conducting internal reforms primarily for the sake of its own citizens, and that the start of entry talks meant the continuation of comprehensive social, political and economic reforms with an aim of making Croatia a modern, prosperous and developed country.
Our primary interest is to enhance the living standards of all our citizens, he stressed.
He also pointed out the importance of correctly informing the public of all aspects and meanings of EU membership.
According to Seks, credit for the opening of the entry talks should go to the current government led by Prime Minister Ivo Sanader, President Stjepan Mesic and all previous parliaments and governments of Croatia.
In this context he also mentioned Croatian soldiers and volunteers who fought in the Homeland Defence War and the first Croatian president, Franjo Tudjman.
He went on to say that there would be no Croatian state without the legitimate Homeland Defence War.
Apart from parliamentary deputies and former parliament speakers, also present at the special session were President Mesic, PM Sanader and members of his cabinet, top officials of the judicial authority, representatives of the university community in Croatia as well as top dignitaries of the Catholic Church in Croatia and other religious communities, the diplomatic corps in Croatia, prefects, mayors, Croatian Army officials and members of war veterans' associations, trade unions, employers' associations and other public figures.
The special session began with Croatia's anthem and ended with the EU anthem, the theme of the Ode to Joy.