PRESIDENT: ONE CANNOT BE IN TWO PLACES AT THE SAME TIME

ZAGREB, Nov 19 (Hina) - Croatian President Stjepan Mesic on Tuesday commented on writings in the media about why he did not attend the 11th anniversary of the fall of the eastern Croatian town of Vukovar on Monday and about his ill-picked time to visit India and Sri Lanka. One cannot be at two places at the same time, Mesic said. #L# Stating that the laws of physics cannot be changed, Mesic said that a schedule of his visit abroad was drawn up by the host-country. While attending an exhibition of painter Josip Vanista at the Jewish Community in Zagreb, Mesic told reporters that he was being criticised for how much he spent on travels. He explained that the country which invited him for a visit covered all the costs. Asked whether he believed the fact that Croatia would not be admitted into NATO at this time was a failure, the president said he had not counted on Croatia being admitted in this round of the organisation's expansion. Croatia must draw closer to NATO, which is clear, he stressed. Europe is uniting, this is Croatia's fate, and NATO is its safety, and Croatia must have an armed force which is organised under NATO standards, he said. (hina) lml sb