PRESIDENT MESIC FORWARDS BEST WISHES FOR STATEHOOD DAY

ZAGREB, May 28 (Hina) - Croatian President Stjepan Mesic forwarded a message to Croatian citizens ahead of the country's Statehood Day, to be marked May 30. "Ten years ago, Croatia started on the path towards independence exercising its constitutional right as a federal unit of the former Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. ... During the past ten years Croatia and its citizens lived through turbulent, dramatic historic events, sufficient to fill a whole lifetime," Mesic said in his message. We defended our country from internal uprising and external aggression and created a respectable armed force to guarantee our freedom and independence. We have fought for and won access to the world scene and international organisations and institutions. We have laid the corner stone of a democratic society and rejected an autocratic model of ruling which threatened to suffocate the young democracy, the message further reads. "Today, Croatia is facing the task of reviving its economy and creating conditions in which each of its citizens, notwithstanding their nationality, religion, gender or world view, will be able to live a dignified life, free and fully equal to all other citizens," Mesic said in his message. We have a state and nothing can endanger it any more. We must consolidate its foundations and include it in the unifying Europe as soon as possible. These are great tasks and it is up to each and every one of us to carry our own share of responsibility in their fulfilment, Mesic's message said. (hina) lml