ZAGREB, Mar 6 (Hina) - Croatian Premier Ivica Racan on Monday received George Soros, a United States businessman of Hungarian origin who founded and is president of the Open Society foundations network. Talks tackled possibilities of
co-operation and assistance in Croatia's democratic processes. "I am glad the talks were very open and that we exchanged views on possibilities of cooperation and assistance to democratic processes in Croatia and the building of Croatia as Europe's economic and democratic partner," Premier Racan told reporters. He believes Soros' experience could assist the Croatian government in future steps in connection with European initiatives, such as the Stability Pact for Southeast Europe. Premier Racan reiterated his government had a positive view of civic society institutions and non-governmental organisations, which he described as "welcome partners which speak of democratic Croatia, and not
ZAGREB, Mar 6 (Hina) - Croatian Premier Ivica Racan on Monday
received George Soros, a United States businessman of Hungarian
origin who founded and is president of the Open Society foundations
network. Talks tackled possibilities of co-operation and
assistance in Croatia's democratic processes.
"I am glad the talks were very open and that we exchanged views on
possibilities of cooperation and assistance to democratic
processes in Croatia and the building of Croatia as Europe's
economic and democratic partner," Premier Racan told reporters.
He believes Soros' experience could assist the Croatian government
in future steps in connection with European initiatives, such as
the Stability Pact for Southeast Europe.
Premier Racan reiterated his government had a positive view of
civic society institutions and non-governmental organisations,
which he described as "welcome partners which speak of democratic
Croatia, and not opponents or even enemies, as was sometimes said in
the past.
Soros, who arrived in Zagreb primarily to visit his foundation,
assessed the talks with Racan as "very useful" despite there having
been no mention of concrete projects.
Soros said open society was often being confused with civic
society. Open society has a very strong civic society, but it also
has a democratic government which is open to civic society, he
explained.
Since Racan's government was open to civic society, Soros said he
would do everything to nurture the cooperation.
He was very positive in assessing his foundation's work in Zagreb,
pointing out it has a very strong administration with a clear vision
of what it wants and what it should achieve.
Asked about misunderstandings surrounding his foundation in the
past, Soros conceded there had been misunderstandings, but added
they were not related to the foundation itself but former Croatian
President Franjo Tudjman's government, which he said had accused
him of supporting traitors.
While in Zagreb, Soros will meet Croatia's new President Stipe
Mesic, ministers and representatives of Croatia's non-
governmental organisations.
(hina) ha mm