PARLIAMENT PRESIDENT FORWARDS INDEPENDENCE DAY MESSAGE

ZAGREB, Oct 6 (Hina) - Croatian Parliament President Zlatko Tomcic on Sunday forwarded a message to Croatian citizens, offering his best wishes for Independence Day, October 8. #L# "By severing all state and legal relations with the former Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia on October 8, 1991, Croatia definitely realised the centuries-long wish of many generations of Croats to have an independent state," the parliament president says, adding that "this historic decision at the same time meant embarking on a difficult and uncertain path of making decisions about one's own future and existence independently". "Today we know that that decision was the right one as well as that the Republic of Croatia faces the great complexity of international relations as an independent subject. "We still face a demanding task of consistently overcoming our own deficiencies in the process of embracing norms accepted in countries with democratic systems... "I do not doubt at all that with the determination and ability of its citizens the Republic of Croatia will join the circle of advanced countries, relying for inspiration on the optimism and unity from the first days of independence," reads Tomcic's message. (hina) rml