ZAGREB, Dec 30 (Hina) - Croatian President Stjepan Mesic on Monday forwarded a New Year's message of best wishes to all Croatian citizens, wishing them peace, security, a better life and a clear perspective of future in the next
year.
ZAGREB, Dec 30 (Hina) - Croatian President Stjepan Mesic on Monday
forwarded a New Year's message of best wishes to all Croatian
citizens, wishing them peace, security, a better life and a clear
perspective of future in the next year. #L#
Mesic said that the past year had yielded many successes, some big
projects were launched, but that key progress had not been made in
some issues.
Firstly, the situation in economy is still such as to render us
dissatisfied, Mesic said, and pointed to the problem of
unemployment and insufficient inflow of foreign capital.
"We started an unavoidable, but very delicate and responsible task
of reorganising our armed forces. We are working on reforming and
depoliticising our justice system. This is the basic precondition
for the full functioning of the rule of law in which every citizen
will feel safe and protected," said Mesic.
Internationally, Croatia successfully continued the policy of
opening and establishing cooperation, with neighbours and faraway
countries, the president said.
"Our cooperation with the Hague tribunal, which is necessary to
individualise guilt for war crimes and to which we have been bound
with the Constitution, was not in all aspects as it was supposed to
be and as the world expected it to be. Because of our own credibility
and to maintain the reputation which we have gained in the world, we
should not allow the situation in which we were to be repeated,"
said Mesic.
He added that Croatia was entering the New Year with great
expectations regarding drawing closer to Euro-Atlantic
associations, and that further progress was up to Croatia.
"I know that Croatia is making progress, but I also know that an
enormous majority of our citizens does not feel that yet," said
Mesic, and pointed to the importance of reaching positive changes
in everyday life.
"When it comes to Croatia's key interests, let us forget party and
other differences, and act responsibly," Mesic said, stressing
that Croatia's good international position should not be brought
into question.
"Let us confirm with everything we do that actions speak louder than
words, that we respect assumed obligations and that our opting for
democracy is firm and irrevocable," Mesic said.
(hina) lml sb