PRESIDENT MESIC GETS AWARD

WASHINGTON, Croatian President Stjepan Mesic was on Saturday presented with an award of the American Bar Association (ABA) in Washington for his contribution to democratic and economic changes in Croatia. #L# The ceremony was attended by more than 500 people, including US state officials and diplomats. Thanking for the reward, Mesic said that he viewed it as a commendation to Croatia's policy after the election in 2000. He expressed satisfaction that the world recognised Croatia as a country in which extreme importance is being given to the development of democracy and rule of law. The award was presented to Mesic by the president of ABA, Robert Hirshon, who stressed that under Mesic's leadership, Croatia had become a respectable and dependant partner, and a member of the international community. The implementation of the rule of law is an unavoidable condition for maintaining a firm and stable democratic structure, Mesic said. He said that Croatia, as other transitional countries, was still faced with the legacy of a system whose legal order was in service of the ruling ideology. He added that this resulted in the creation of a mentality of which it is characteristic to tie authority with privileges, and one of the means of acquiring privileges is corruption. Such a mentality was not only inherited by individuals in the government, but also many Croatian citizens, Mesic said. Countries such as the United States have a democratic tradition of many years, and can assist transitional countries with their experiences, knowledge, and even pressure from time to time if necessary, Mesic said in his speech. (hina) lml