RIJEKA, June 8 (Hina) - "I am equally impressed with today's meeting with Pope John Paul II as I was with our first meeting in Rome. He impressed me with the spiritual strength he demonstrated during the talks not only with me, but
with other interlocutors as well," Croatian Prime Minister Ivica Racan said Sunday after an audience the Holy Father granted him and his wife.
RIJEKA, June 8 (Hina) - "I am equally impressed with today's meeting
with Pope John Paul II as I was with our first meeting in Rome. He
impressed me with the spiritual strength he demonstrated during the
talks not only with me, but with other interlocutors as well,"
Croatian Prime Minister Ivica Racan said Sunday after an audience
the Holy Father granted him and his wife. #L#
"I would like to stress his vivid interest in Croatia, the situation
in the region and wider. This is in accordance with his messages
which most definitely have a universal meaning and which is why they
are acceptable to many people regardless of their religious,
political or national background," the prime minister said.
Asked about the context of talks with the Pontiff, Racan said they
continued the talks they started in Rome.
"I said then that the definite orientation of this country,
regardless of the fact who is in power, is that Croatia in its
development shows the belonging to the Christian, Democratic and
European civilisation and to proceed in that direction," said
Racan.
"We also discussed progress made over the past three years in
Croatia and the region," said Racan and added the pope expressed
interest in the situation in the region and that he would soon visit
neighbouring Bosnia-Herzegovina.
The PM said, however, he and the Holy Father did not discuss
relations between the Church and Croatia.
Those issues are successfully being solved through dialogue
between state and Church structures in Croatia.
"We are particularly grateful to the Holy Father on the support he
gave to Croatia in the most difficult times of fight for
independence. Extremely important is also the support the Holy
Father is giving Croatia today, when we are investing great efforts
to become a member of the European Union. His message and support in
that sense is without reservation and is very precious to us," said
Racan.
He added that as the prime minister he was particularly happy with
the Pontiff's support.
Racan thanked all those who showed how much they respected the Holy
Father, and once again stressed what the pope's support meant for a
great majority of the people in Croatia.
"This was seen on the faces of those who met him and the Holy Father
was extremely satisfied with his visit.
The prime minister thanked all those who contributed to the pope's
arrival in Croatia and the organisation of his trip.
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