PRESIDENT MESIC GIVES RECEPTION ON OCCASION OF STATEHOOD DAY

ZAGREB, June 24 (Hina) - On the occasion of tomorrow's Statehood Day, Croatian President Stjepan Mesic and his wife Milka on Tuesday night received representatives of the parliament and government, led by parliament president Zlatko Tomcic and Prime Minister Ivica Racan, representatives of the diplomatic corps with Apostolic Nuncio Giulio Einaudi at the helm, and representatives of religious communities. #L# Addressing the guests, Mesic said that Croatia was celebrating Statehood Day in a year in which it had continued its accelerated economic growth. He recalled that Croatia had submitted its formal application for membership in the EU this year and voiced satisfaction with the fact that the first reactions to the application, both from the EU and neighbouring countries, were more than positive. "This gives us reason to be optimistic," he said. He said the individual approach to the EU being reaffirmed at the EU Summit in Thessaloniki was important. Croatia is very active in advancing cooperation with its neighbours and it will continue this policy so as to help create a favourable atmosphere for overcoming difficulties and open issues, the president said. He stressed Croatia continued to strengthen democratic institutions of the law-based state as well as the rule of law in internal political relations. (hina) lml sb