ZAGREB, Jan 28 (Hina) - Croatian President Stjepan Mesic has said that in the past two years of his mandate he has helped place Croatia in the European framework and helped it open up to the world, and that he did not make any
strategic mistakes which would affect the country's internal and foreign policies.
ZAGREB, Jan 28 (Hina) - Croatian President Stjepan Mesic has said
that in the past two years of his mandate he has helped place Croatia
in the European framework and helped it open up to the world, and
that he did not make any strategic mistakes which would affect the
country's internal and foreign policies. #L#
Over the past two years, Croatia has made progress towards its
strategic aims, the European Union and NATO, Mesic said in a
Croatian Radio broadcast on Monday, expressing confidence that he,
too, had contributed to that progress. As regards internal affairs,
Mesic believes to have contributed to a better functioning of the
rule of law, and the protection of citizens and property.
In the past two years the coalition authorities "have done much,
although not everything that should have been done," Mesic said,
adding that "perhaps more radical moves required more courage."
"We can be satisfied, although not entirely," he said. There are
problems to be solved, the most complex one being high
unemployment, which can be reduced only by reviving production with
direct foreign investments, for which the government must provide
adequate legislation, he said.
Asked about the possibility of an early election, the President
said the balance of forces in the coalition possibly needed to be
changed. Commenting on requests that relations in the coalition be
regulated differently, Mesic said he considered unacceptable the
proposal that "three parties make decisions instead of the lawfully
elected government or veto its decisions."
Asked about his speech at the Croatian parliament on the occasion of
the 10th anniversary of Croatia's international recognition, which
was slammed by the Opposition, Mesic said he was speaking the truth.
"Even my harshest critics did not dispute that, but claimed the
place where I said it was wrong," Mesic said, wondering where but in
parliament was he supposed to make such a speech. He reiterated his
opposition to Croatia's interfering in Bosnia's internal affairs,
stressing he believed one had to identify the things that were
wrong.
Asked about the reorganisation of the Armed Forces, Mesic said
dilemmas about the defence law were resolved, the law on the Armed
Forces needed to be harmonised and the matter was almost completed.
Talks on secret services will start in coming days, he added.
Commenting on a ban on the transit of oil cisterns through Croatia,
which met with negative reactions in Slovenia and Bosnia-
Herzegovina, and was subsequently modified, Mesic said the
government's intention to prevent the smuggling and illegal sale of
oil products was good, however the government should have prepared
it better and tried to find the best solution in talks with
neighbouring countries. One should have considered all aspects of
that decision, Mesic said, adding the decision inflicted indirect
damage to Croatia, its image and credibility.
Commenting on a statement by Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ)
president Maja Freundlich in the United States, which was carried
by the Croatian media, Mesic said Freundlich's claim that attempts
were being made to push Croatia back to the Balkans through the
European Union was unacceptable. Asked about Freundlich's
statement that he would be tried once the HDZ returned to power, the
President said even then people would have to be tried on the basis
of evidence and not by Freundlich's courts.
(hina) sb rml