JOHANNESBURG JOHANNESBURG, Sept 2 (Hina) - Croatian President Stjepan Mesic, who is taking part in the UN Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg, on Monday met members of the Croat community in the Republic of South Africa
at the office of the Croat Catholic mission in Johannesburg.
JOHANNESBURG, Sept 2 (Hina) - Croatian President Stjepan Mesic, who
is taking part in the UN Summit on Sustainable Development in
Johannesburg, on Monday met members of the Croat community in the
Republic of South Africa at the office of the Croat Catholic mission
in Johannesburg. #L#
Between 5,000 and 6,000 Croat emigrants live in the Republic of
South Africa, of whom 3,000 live in Johannesburg and its
surroundings. Around 200 emigrants gathered for today's meeting
with President Mesic, which was organised by Father Ivica Strcic.
The meeting was held in a very cordial atmosphere and President
Mesic commented on a number of current issues in Croatia's
political life, as well as some important events from the country's
more recent history.
He spoke about the importance of the assistance of the Croatian
Diaspora in the defence of the country from the Serb aggression, and
about the fact that part of that assistance ended up in the wrong
pockets and efforts that are being made to trace it. The President
also spoke about the government's efforts to build Croatia
according to the standards of the developed world and meet
requirements for NATO and EU membership.
The President was answering numerous questions by the emigrants
about the political situation in Croatia, admission to the EU,
environmental protection, ownership transformation, retired
generals, unemployment, and the Johannesburg Summit.
The emigrants showed that they are exceptionally well-infomed
about the current situation in the country. They asked President
Mesic about the border dispute with Slovenia in Piran Bay.
Reminding about the history of the dispute, Mesic said that it
probably would be settled through international arbitration.
The main problem at present is the right of Slovene fishermen to
fish in the Croatian waters, to which they are entitled by an
agreement on local border traffic signed by former Foreign Minister
Mate Granic, Mesic said. "It would be better for Granic to collect
signatures for the cancellation of the agreement he signed, than
the one which was hastily signed but is not legally binding," Mesic
said.
The Democratic Centre (DC) party of former Foreign Minister Mate
Granic has been collecting signatures throughout the country for
the cancellation of the initialled border agreement with
Slovenia.
On Tuesday President Mesic will participate in a round table
discussion on the implementation of the summit conclusions and hold
meetings with Yugoslav, Polish and Finnish presidents.
(hina) rml