County Prefect Ivan Jakovicic said that the statute was the foundation of relations in Istria and that they could be proud of that document.
Our priorities are well-known, full employment, a modern road, energy and social infrastructure, and cooperation with European regions, Jakovcic said.
Former Croatian president and honorary citizen of Istria County Stjepan Mesic recalled the bureaucratic and politically-motivated obstacles in the process of the adoption of the Statute of Istria County.
Mesic said that the adoption of the document was also a message to others in Croatia about how to embark on decentralisation.
The statute was passed in 2001, eliciting various reactions.