ZAGREB, Oct 15 (Hina) - Croatian President Stjepan Mesic on Tuesday received George Soros, president of the Open Society Institute from New York, and a delegation of the Institute's Croatian branch, Mesic's office said in a
statement.
ZAGREB, Oct 15 (Hina) - Croatian President Stjepan Mesic on Tuesday
received George Soros, president of the Open Society Institute from
New York, and a delegation of the Institute's Croatian branch,
Mesic's office said in a statement. #L#
The talks addressed Croatia's achievements in the development of
democracy and civil society over the past two years, and issues that
have yet to be tackled.
President Mesic criticised the fact that not enough has been done in
dealing with problems left behind by the preceding government.
Considerable progress has been noted in the functioning of the
rule-of-law, even though it has not been fully established, said
Mesic.
Soros presented his view of the situation in the region, expressing
interest in the possible consequences of a revival of national-
radical political options, as evidenced at recent elections in
Bosnia-Herzegovina and Serbia.
It was stated that the development of regional cooperation was in
the interest of all countries in South Eastern Europe and their
drawing closer to Euro-Atlantic integration.
Mesic said economic factors were evidently interested in
developing such cooperation but that politicians were still
somewhat hesitant.
Mesic decorated Soros with the Prince Branimir Order with Chain for
his merits in the democratisation of Croatia through humanitarian,
scientific and cultural activities in the country.
(hina) ha sb