ZAGREB, Jan 19 (Hina) - Relations between Croatia and the United States have passed different phases, but have never been as good as they could objectively be, Croatia's President Stjepan Mesic said while receiving a letter of
credence from the newly-appointed US Ambassador, Lawrence Rossin, on Friday evening.
ZAGREB, Jan 19 (Hina) - Relations between Croatia and the United
States have passed different phases, but have never been as good as
they could objectively be, Croatia's President Stjepan Mesic said
while receiving a letter of credence from the newly-appointed US
Ambassador, Lawrence Rossin, on Friday evening.#L#
I am sure that during your ambassadorial post in Zagreb the
bilateral ties will reach that quality, the Croatian head of state
said adding Croatia was undergoing a difficult period of reforms
and was expecting "assistance from abroad."
We need assistance rather than handouts in that process. We need
foreign investments so that we can revive our ravaged economy,
Mesic added.
Presenting the credentials, diplomat Rossin spoke of the ties
between his country and Croatia.
"With the remarkable transition to real and pervasive democracy set
in motion last year under your and your government's leadership,
relations between the United States and Croatia have deepened and
begun to develop into a true partnership," Rossin said.
He stressed that as ambassador he would work "to strengthen trade
between the United States and Croatia and to encourage direct
American investment in Croatia."
"As my nation now stands on the brink of its own democratic change in
administration, I come to Croatia to reaffirm the commitment of the
United States to sustain this engagement with you, to work together
to strengthen the security and prosperity of both our peoples and of
all in the broader region," the ambassador added.
Rossin commented on the necessity for Croatia to cooperate with the
International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY)
and called on Zagreb to strengthen regional cooperation and take
part in regional initiatives.
Croatia accepts regional cooperation as a condition for its own
development as well as for the development of the region, Mesic said
emphasising that his country was looking forward to the future but
did not run from the past "regardless of how painful it may be." In
this context, Croatia's statesman added that his country had the
right "to expect from others in the neighbourhood to show such
strength."
(hina) ms