ZAGREB, Jan 26 (Hina) - Since its establishment as an independent country Croatia has, with alternating engagement, participated in the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, where world politicians and business people, assisted
by science and men of letters, seek answers to the challenges the world is facing in its global growth.
ZAGREB, Jan 26 (Hina) - Since its establishment as an independent
country Croatia has, with alternating engagement, participated in
the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, where world
politicians and business people, assisted by science and men of
letters, seek answers to the challenges the world is facing in its
global growth. #L#
For Croatia's delegation, led by the president of state Franjo
Tudjman, paying a visit to Davos in 1991 represented an opportunity
to affirm the right to life to a country which at the time was still
not recognised. For Tudjman, attendance at the Forum alone was
another argument in favour of Croatia's recognition and upon his
return to Zagreb he told reporters the respected gathering had
invited him personally as the president of the Republic of Croatia,
showing an official badge he wore at the gathering.
At the time, the Serbian president Slobodan Milosevic was
presenting himself to Europe and the world as the keeper of the
Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, with Slovene Prime
Minister Janez Drnovsek acting as a representative for the
presidency of the country which was at its last gasp.
Asked about his talks with Milosevic, Tudjman told foreign
reporters in Davos Croatia would request that "everything Serbia
seeks for Serbs in Croatia be granted to Croats in other parts of
Yugoslavia, that is, in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Serbia and
Montenegro."
A year later, in February 1992, Croatia was an internationally
recognised country. A commentator of the 'Vecernji list' daily said
that "Davos was the promotion of Croatia's independence in the
world" and "Dr. Tudjman was among the prominent and popular
participants" of the meeting. Croatia became an "agent of
international order," the daily read noting that Tibetans, longing
for independence, protested against Chinese Prime Minister Li Peng
referring to Croatia's case.
In the years to follow, Croatia's policy toward neighbouring
Bosnia-Herzegovina began to erode the hard-won inclination of the
West and Croatia's participation came to a standstill. In June
1994, upon his return from the international economic gathering
Forum Universale in Crans Montana, the then prime minister Nikica
Valentic spoke about the need to open up.
"By visiting other countries, one realises that Croatia is not the
centre of the world and we have to adjust to international
criteria," Valentic said. He singled out noisemakers who opposed
the European dictate adding that "they should realise that without
accepting (international) standards Croatia stands no chance of
becoming a European state." He expressed hope that the newly-
established contacts would resume in Crans Montana and Davos, where
he said a far more important economic gathering took place.
After two years of non-participation, the then prime minister
Zlatko Matesa and Economy Minister Davor Stern left for Davos in
1996. The Dayton peace agreement had already been signed (November
17, 1995), some discussions focused on peace in the Balkans, and a
separate topic, called "Religion and Reconciliation", was opened
with the aim of enabling dialogue between church dignitaries from
the area of former Yugoslavia.
Richard Holbrooke, assistant to the US Secretary of State for
Europe and creator of the Dayton agreement, then reprimanded the
prime ministers of Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Yugoslavia,
calling on them not to talk with west European representatives but
with each other. In the past three days you should have been sitting
in a corner and talking, Holbrooke said.
At the 1997 meeting, Croatia participated as a country which had
already started talks on membership in the World Trade
Organisation, which it joined in 2000. Upon return from Davos,
Economy Minister Davor Stern told the 'Slobodna Dalmacija' daily
Croatia was a star of central Europe in 1997 and had the best
possible arguments to stay in the centre of the world economic
interest. The reality though failed to confirm his words.
After exactly ten years, Croatia's president is again in Davos.
This time, it is Stjepan Mesic, accompanied by European Integration
Minister Ivan Jakovcic and foreign policy advisor Tomislav Jakic.
The new Yugoslav president, Vojislav Kostunica, too, should attend
a discussion about the Balkans. The Croatian side has expressed
readiness in principle to meet Kostunica.
(hina) sb rml