RACAN: DECISION ABOUT INDEPENDENCE WAS THE ONLY POSSIBLE SOLUTION

ZAGREB, Oct 7 (Hina) - Croatian Prime Minister Ivica Racan said at a reception organised on Tuesday by the government on the occasion of Independence Day, October 8, that the Croatian parliament's decision to sever constitutional ties with the former federation 12 years ago had been a logical and the only possible solution. #L# He recalled that all the efforts Croatia had invested before the adoption of said decision to have the Yugoslav crisis solved in a peaceful manner as well as all the proposals for reorganisation of the federation into a union of independent sovereign republics had been rejected. Recalling events from the Homeland War, Racan said that Croatia had succeeded in defending its independence and was now oriented to the adoption of European values, a new objective being integration in the process of enlargement of the EU. "We have done a big job, we have launched and carried out several very difficult, and sometimes painful reforms, and done a lot to organise Croatia in line with European standards," the PM said. "We have done everything to clear up misunderstandings that cropped up in that process, confident that the fair Europe, the Europe of the strict, but equal rules and just criteria, also needs the small Croatia in order to be complete," he said. "We now know that we have the maturity, strength and courage to persevere on our path. Thinking about tomorrow, Croatia is not forgetting the thousands of Croatian soldiers whose lives were built into the foundations of its freedom and independence," Racan said. The government reception was attended by numerous guests from Croatia's public life, politicians, religious dignitaries, members of the diplomatic corps, business people and others. (hina) rml sb