ZAGREB, April 29 (Hina) - Croatian President Stjepan Mesic has given a statement on the occasion of admission of ten new countries to the European Union on May 1, describing the forthcoming EU enlargement as "a historic event" which
will change the image of Europe and the world and which is also of great importance for Croatia.
ZAGREB, April 29 (Hina) - Croatian President Stjepan Mesic has given a
statement on the occasion of admission of ten new countries to the
European Union on May 1, describing the forthcoming EU enlargement as
"a historic event" which will change the image of Europe and the world
and which is also of great importance for Croatia.#L#
"The forthcoming expansion of the European Union is very important
also for those countries which are on the path towards admission to
the EU, including Croatia," Mesic said in the statement issued on
Thursday.
Viewing EU enlargement as a millennium endeavour from which no
European country can and should be excluded, Mesic said it was of
vital importance for Croatia "to enter the European Union, and it is
also in the interest of the European Union to include Croatia in its
ranks".
"A major task and responsibility of the Croatian Government is to
create conditions enabling Croatia to join the united Europe," Mesic
said.
On the path towards Europe, Croatia has achieved significant success
but there is no room for complacency, the President added.
"Behind us is only a part of the road we have embarked on and great
tasks and challenges are lying ahead," Mesic said voicing hope that
the government would launch a comprehensive programme of preparations
for EU membership.
"I expect that a programme will be launched with the aim of informing
and explaining to each citizen what the entry to the European Union
means, what they gain with it and what they are expected to do," the
statement read.
He also urged the cessation of futile speculations on when the
European Union would admit Croatia.
"Our job and primarily the job of the government, but also of others,
is to do our best to ensure that we are ready for entry into the
united Europe in 2007. Let's concentrate on this! At the same time we
should oppose resolutely all who try, regardless of the pretext they
use for their moves, to slow down or halt our progress towards
Europe," the head of state said.
Mesic recalled that he had always advocated Croatia's admission to the
European Union.
"I have advocated a democratic, tolerant, open and law-based Croatia,
as only such a Croatia can join Europe. I have supported and promoted
respect for human rights, the positive treatment of minorities, the
punishment of war criminals regardless of their ethnic and religious
background, respect for the anti-Fascist foundations of our society,
the development of regional cooperation and a resolute struggle
against international terrorism -- and I shall do the same in the
future," Mesic said.
At the end of the statement Mesic said that "the united Europe is not
only our desire but also our destiny" and that the only alternative
would be isolation, which would be fatal for Croatia.
(Hina) ms