ZAGREB, Jan 3 (Hina) - President Stipe Mesic on Wednesday received a delegation of Lado, the national ensemble of artists performing Croatian songs and dances around the world. "Perhaps we have done too little in this year and I think
we could have done more," said the president, but added it could be made up for. "In the new decade we have to overcome most or all the difficulties and become equal to (developed countries). We can achieve that if we join our efforts, and everyone's help is welcome," he said, adding "Croatia does have chances, but everything must be in the function of development." Mesic said the past decade had been marked by a policy which isolated Croatia from the world and was wrong towards neighbouring Bosnia. He said some were too impressed by the policy of former Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic "and his notion of dividing (Bosnia), seeking in it a chance for Croatia as well.
ZAGREB, Jan 3 (Hina) - President Stipe Mesic on Wednesday received a
delegation of Lado, the national ensemble of artists performing
Croatian songs and dances around the world.
"Perhaps we have done too little in this year and I think we could
have done more," said the president, but added it could be made up
for. "In the new decade we have to overcome most or all the
difficulties and become equal to (developed countries). We can
achieve that if we join our efforts, and everyone's help is
welcome," he said, adding "Croatia does have chances, but
everything must be in the function of development."
Mesic said the past decade had been marked by a policy which
isolated Croatia from the world and was wrong towards neighbouring
Bosnia. He said some were too impressed by the policy of former
Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic "and his notion of dividing
(Bosnia), seeking in it a chance for Croatia as well. It was an
entirely failed policy."
Today Croatia can realise its strategic goals and eliminate the
border hurdles in joining united Europe in which every people will
live in a complete cultural corpus, Mesic said, adding united
Europe would be able to compete with the United States and Japan. If
we fail to join, we are out of the game, he said.
"You have done a lot to prevent Croatian culture from remaining
unknown and I congratulate you on this. I think we should do even
more to present Croatia's possibilities," said the president.
Manager Josip Guberina said Lado held more than 5,000 performances
in the 51 years of its existence, presenting the Croatian cultural
heritage around the world.
(hina) ha