ZAGREB, Feb 8 (Hina) - Croatia's new President Stipe Mesic thanked to all citizens who went to the polls for Croatia's presidential election, and to all who placed confidence in him. "I have said I shall be the President of all
citizens of Croatia," Mesic said shortly upon the announcement of first unofficial election results after Monday midnight, and thanked also to his rival in the run-off ballot, Drazen Budisa.
ZAGREB, Feb 8 (Hina) - Croatia's new President Stipe Mesic thanked
to all citizens who went to the polls for Croatia's presidential
election, and to all who placed confidence in him.
"I have said I shall be the President of all citizens of Croatia,"
Mesic said shortly upon the announcement of first unofficial
election results after Monday midnight, and thanked also to his
rival in the run-off ballot, Drazen Budisa. #L#
We should now do a great job, i.e. approach closer Europe. We want to
accomplish very soon strategic objectives - the entry to the
European Union and NATO. We would like to establish such ties with
our neighbouring countries that would be a pre-condition for the
admission to European integration processes, Mesic said.
Upon being inaugurated as Croatia's new President on 18 February
Mesic will work on Croatia's opening toward Europe, as it is his
goal in the foreign policy. He announced his visits to other states
and his invitations to heads of states to come in Croatia.
"We want to show to the world that Croatia is a part of Europe and
that Europe is in Croatia as well. I hope this cooperation will be
promoted very soon, as the policy of isolationism brought about
only damage to Croatia. Croatia must have the European standard,
the standard of living. First initiatives must be to the benefit of
all citizens of Croatia," Mesic said.
Asked what topics will be discussed at his first talks with the
recently appointed Croatian Premier Ivica Racan, Croatia's new
President said he would hold a meeting with Racan before the
inauguration ceremony, as what Racan wants to achieve I want also
and we a part of the same group, Mesic asserted.
"I believe that our cooperation will be advantageous to Croatian
citizens and state," he said.
Mesic told reporters he had no list of his future aides. I must first
see the structure of the Presidential Office as that office will no
longer be as it has been before. Its many powers will be curbed, he
announced.
"When the Sabor adopts the President's powers I shall carry out
them. All what I am obliged by the Constitution to do I shall do
conscientiously," Mesic said in his first statement he gave as the
new Croatian President.
(hina) ms