PODGORICA, Jan 15 (Hina) - Croatian President Stjepan Mesic said in an interview with the Thursday edition of the Montenegrin daily "Dan" that it was in Croatia's interest to have a democratic and peaceful neighbourhood.
PODGORICA, Jan 15 (Hina) - Croatian President Stjepan Mesic said in an
interview with the Thursday edition of the Montenegrin daily "Dan"
that it was in Croatia's interest to have a democratic and peaceful
neighbourhood.#L#
"I believe it is now clear to everyone that this region cannot remain
Europe's black hole and that we simply must become part of (the
European Union)," Mesic said.
Asked to comment on the victory of the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ)
in last year's parliamentary election, Mesic said "the HDZ is aware of
its mistakes from the past" and it "has demonstrated its intention to
be a pro-European conservative right-wing party".
Mesic commended the previous Croatian government of Prime Minister
Ivica Racan for "doing a lot of good things", primarily for helping
Croatia get out of international isolation.
The Croatian president said he expected that "Croatia will continue
along its path towards Euro-Atlantic institutions, and that all steps
taken by the new government will be directed at that goal".
(Hina) vm sb