JERUSALEM, Oct 31 (Hina) - Croatian President Stipe Mesic in the Israeli parliament, the Knesset, on Wednesday, expressed deep and sincere regret for crimes committed against Jews in the so-called Independent State of Croatia (NDH)
(1941-1945).
JERUSALEM, Oct 31 (Hina) - Croatian President Stipe Mesic in the
Israeli parliament, the Knesset, on Wednesday, expressed deep and
sincere regret for crimes committed against Jews in the so-called
Independent State of Croatia (NDH) (1941-1945).#L#
As Croatia's President I would like to express deep and sincere
regret for crimes committed against Jews in World War II in the
quisling entity called the Independent State of Croatia, which was
neither independent nor Croatian.
Mesic said he spoke on behalf of democratic Croatia which continued
the tradition of antifascist Croatia from WWII. Croatia's head of
state reminded that the majority of the Croatian people during WWII
was on the side of the anti-fascist resistance movement, and added
that Croatia today knows that it can build its future and relations
with other countries only on its firm orientation towards democracy
and freedom.
The time when Croatia was denying the dark sides of its history is
gone, Mesic said and added the country was aware of its
responsibility in the investigation, processing and convicting of
war criminals regardless of their nationality and the period during
which the war crimes had been committed.
On behalf of Croatia, I extend a hand of friendship and cooperation,
Mesic said, expressing belief the cooperation would be in both
countries' interest as well as in the interest of world's peace.
Israel and its citizens have the right to live in peace and
security. And Palestinians have the right to live in a peaceful and
safe atmosphere and, like any other nation, the right to live in
their own country, Mesic said and added that the future of the Near
East and the entire world must be a permanent and just peace.
At the end of his speech in the Knesset, Mesic said he came to Israel
to remove the legacy of the past, present the new Croatia and lay
foundations for long-term cooperation.
Knesset speaker Avraham Burg advocated the opening of a new chapter
in the Croatia-Israel relations. Israeli Prime Minister Ariel
Sharon reminded that 30,000 Croatian Jews were killed in the
holocaust and added Israel was proof that something like this would
never happen again.
We are monitoring Croatia's position on the international scene and
we are sure that Croatia will, by joining the European Union,
contribute to stabilisation and peace in Europe, Sharon said.
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