CROATIAN PRESIDENT: RULE OF LAW IS PRE-CONDITION FOR DEMOCRACY

WASHINGTON, Aug 10 (Hina) - Without the rule of law, Croatia has no place in the circle of democratic countries, and outside this circle Croatia has no future, Croatia's head of state, Stjepan Mesic, said in Washington on Friday evening. #L# Mesic arrived in the United States as a guest of the American Bar Association that proclaimed him as this year's recipient of its annual award for the contribution to democratic and economic changes. At the dinner which the ABA executive board's head, Homer Moyer, held last night in honour of President Mesic, the Croatian head of state thanked for the award and confirmed that Croatia was determined to achieve the highest democratic standards and become a law-based society. New authorities, although not always sufficiently resolute, have firmly committed themselves to the full democracy and the establishment of the rule of law, Mesic said at the dinner. He said he was convinced that Croatia without the rule of law would have no place inside the circle of democracies, and outside this circle the country faced bleak prospects. Mesic said Zagreb would like to fully contribute to the stabilisation of the situation in the region. The ABA award will be bestowed on President Mesic on Saturday evening's ceremony. Some of former recipients are presidents of the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Bulgaria, Vaclav Havel, Michal Kovac and Peter Stoyanov respectively. (hina) ms