PULA FILM FESTIVAL OPENED; MESIC LEAVES ARENA BEFORE START OF OPENING CEREMONY

PULA, June 23 (Hina) - A few minutes before the ceremonial opening of the 48th Pula Film Festival on Friday evening, Croatia's President Stjepan Mesic left the venue of the ceremony, Pula's Arena. Mesic's office later announced it would release a statement on Saturday morning regarding that event. The festival's director, Armando Debeljuh, told reporters that President Mesic had left Arena owing to too diligent security and their too strict check-up of visitors, what caused long queues before the entrance to Pula's amphitheatre. The newly-elected Istrian County Prefect, Ivan Jakovcic, left the venue along with Mesic. This year's festival of Croatian and European movies, was opened by the mayor of Pula, Luciano Delbianco. The traditional firework display ensued after his speech. Foreign diplomats, accredited in Zagreb, also attended the opening ceremony. Earlier in the day, before this ceremony, Croatia's Culture Minister, Antun Vujic, gave a reception for film-makers and other persons from the film industry, politicians and diplomats. Mesic, who was also a guest at the reception, said the film festival in this Croatian city had become a traditional, and the value of this cultural event was even greater in view of the fact that it had been held during the war when "such a festival was not acceptable." (hina) ms