MESIC FORWARDS LETTER TO CHIRAC ON OCCASION OF BASTILLE DAY

ZAGREB, July 14 (Hina) - Croatian President Stjepan Mesic on Sunday forwarded a message to French President Jacques Chirac on the occasion of the French national holiday Bastille Day, July 14, the President's Office said in a statement. #L# "Croatia and France have always striven to build good bilateral relations, but it was only with the establishment of a democratic Croatia that our two countries saw considerable progress in the building of such relations. We share a wish to continue promoting our cooperation in other areas as well, including economy, which Croatia considers very important. We appreciate very much the effective support France has been providing over the past years for Croatia's efforts to join the big European family. The Zagreb Summit, which we organised together here in Zagreb, was primarily an acknowledgement of the new democratic authority and an encouragement to continue on the same path, as well as a clear message to countries in the region that only stability, preceded by good neighbourly relations, can lead to the European Union. The Zagreb Process, in which Croatia has been actively participating, remains a mechanism to consider achievements," Mesic said in the message among other things. (hina) rml