"The document signed today is a great success for entire Europe, which has been divided for centuries and which with this Constitution becomes one state consisting of a number of nations which retain their rights," Sanader told Croatian reporters in Rome after the signing ceremony.
Sanader said that the Croatian delegation was treated like all the others. "Officially, we are candidates and observers, but we could not get this impression at today's signing ceremony, and you saw how Croatia was announced when it submitted the document accepting the European Constitution."
After the prime ministers and foreign ministers of the 25 EU member states signed the Constitution, Croatia submitted a document expressing its intention to accept the joint European Constitution. Those present applauded the submission of the document by Croatia just as they had the signing of the Constitution by each member state.
The Croatian delegation also included Foreign Minister Miomir Zuzul, who said that all European delegations had emphasised Croatia's presence in the European family of nations. He said that it was evident that Croatia's entry into the EU was no longer an issue and that it seemed as if Croatia were already in the bloc.
Sanader and Zuzul said they had had several bilateral meetings, including one with Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, who invited them to attend the opening of La Scala Opera in Milan at the beginning of December. They also met the current European Commission President Romano Prodi and his successor Jose Manuel Barroso, and the prime ministers of Hungary and the Czech Republic.
Sanader added that Prodi would visit Croatia soon and that he would be invited to attend the opening of a transformer station at Ernestinovo in eastern Croatia, which would reconnect the electric power systems of Southeast Europe with the rest of Europe.