JERUSALEM, Oct 30 (Hina) - Croatia has made important decisions about its future and Israel welcomes that, Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres said at a news conference in Israel on Tuesday after meeting Croatian President Stjepan
Mesic. Israel is aware of how difficult it is to leave the past behind and face an uncertain future, but it is also aware Croatia has made that decision. Nobody can change the past, but we can build a new future for new generations, Peres said. He added Israel would carefully consider the possibility of opening its embassy in Croatia. "It was not easy for Croatia to survive two totalitarian regimes, a fascist and a communist one," Mesic said, recalling that, at the time when it was to become part of the democratic world, Croatia was first exposed to war and later to attempts to redefine its past. "We were forced into the war by others and we have won that war, but we did not a
JERUSALEM, Oct 30 (Hina) - Croatia has made important decisions
about its future and Israel welcomes that, Israeli Foreign Minister
Shimon Peres said at a news conference in Israel on Tuesday after
meeting Croatian President Stjepan Mesic.
Israel is aware of how difficult it is to leave the past behind and
face an uncertain future, but it is also aware Croatia has made that
decision. Nobody can change the past, but we can build a new future
for new generations, Peres said.
He added Israel would carefully consider the possibility of opening
its embassy in Croatia.
"It was not easy for Croatia to survive two totalitarian regimes, a
fascist and a communist one," Mesic said, recalling that, at the
time when it was to become part of the democratic world, Croatia was
first exposed to war and later to attempts to redefine its past.
"We were forced into the war by others and we have won that war, but
we did not allow the revision of our past and have we managed to
return to democracy, as we were expected to do," Mesic said.
Asked if he believed Croatia should apologise to Jews for crimes
committed during the Holocaust, Mesic said that World War II
Croatia had been divided. Most Croats, he said, supported anti-
fascism, but there was also the Independent State of Croatia (NDH)
with its regime, which caused huge damage and suffering to non-
Croats.
"I deeply regret that and believe we should apologise to all those
who suffered at the hands of Croats," Mesic said.
(hina) rml