CROATIA'S HEAD OF STATE RECEIVES DIPLOMATIC CORPS

ZAGREB, Jan 15 (Hina) - In 2003 Croatia will participate in the fight against terrorism as a part of the world's anti-terrorist coalition and it will also invest more efforts to help stabilise the region and join NATO and the European Union, head of state Stjepan Mesic said in Zagreb on Wednesday. #L# Addressing representatives of the diplomatic corps on the occasion of the Christmas and New Year holidays, Mesic stressed it was necessary to cooperate with the United Nations, namely to act in line with the principles of the U.N. Charter. He added that terrorism could not defeated by force alone. The president said he agreed that Croatia should announce its official European Union candidacy, but warned that apart from promises concrete actions were necessary. They included cooperation with the U.N war crimes tribunal at The Hague, the return of refugees and displaced persons, the transformation of Croatian Television into a public institution and judiciary reforms. Croatia is in the year of elections, the president said and warned that the country "must not become a hostage to the electoral campaign" and that actions should not be motivated exclusively by party interests. In his speech, held on the occasion of the 11th anniversary of Croatia's international recognition, Mesic announced that the country would continue to implement the policy of cultivating good relations with all countries on the principle of equality and by meeting mutual interests. Mesic also called for tolerance in dialogue. On behalf of the diplomatic corps, apostolic nuncio in Croatia Giulio Einaudi wished Mesic all the best for holidays and praised Croatia's orientation towards full integration with the community of peoples, particularly its gradual association with the European Union. (hina) it