UKRAINE, CROATIA MARK 10TH ANNIVERSARY OF MUTUAL RECOGNITION

ZAGREB, Dec 1 (Hina) - Croatia and Ukraine marked the 10th anniversary of mutual recognition and independence at a ceremony, held in Zagreb on Saturday. The event was organised by the Croatian-Ukrainian Friendship Society, under the auspices of Parliament Speaker Zlatko Tomcic. Croatians and Ukrainians are linked with deep understanding and ties which over the past ten years have been demonstrated through mutual solidarity and support, Tomcic said. The two countries today face similar problems of transition, democratisation, market economy and integration into Euro- Atlantic institutions, insisting at the same time on the preservation of individuality and uniqueness, Tomcic said. He thanked the Ukrainian minority in Croatia, which has been living in the area for two centuries, for contributing to the enrichment of Croatia's cultural identity. Ukraine was the first UN country to recognise Croatia's independence. Today's event was held two days before a two-day official visit of Croatian President Stjepan Mesic to Ukraine. Ukraine Ambassador Viktor Kirik said the mutual solidarity and support between Ukraine and Croatia was the result of friendship and similar ideals the two countries had been sharing for several centuries. Kirik wished Mesic success on his visit to Ukraine, to start on Monday. President Mesic, who also attended the event, said his visit was an opportunity to advance relations between the two states. "Ukraine is a country with huge resources but it has not developed sufficiently. Croatia can help it in that process, developing its own potential," Mesic said. Mesic said the oil pipeline, to run from Kazakhstan, via Russia and Ukraine to Omisalj in Croatia, would help improve cooperation between the two countries. (hina) rml