PRESIDENT MESIC WILL ADDRESS SABOR WITH EPISTLE ON TUESDAY

ZAGREB, May 29 (Hina) - The Croatian National Sabor will mark the 10th anniversary of Croatia's independence and Statehood Day with a special session on Tuesday, which Croatian President Stipe Mesic will address with an epistle. Sabor President Zlatko Tomcic is also expected to deliver a speech. Statehood Day commemorates the Sabor's constituent session of May 30, 1990. It was the first Sabor composition, elected at the first multiparty elections. At the end of 1990, the Sabor adopted a new Constitution, called "the Christmas Constitution", which clearly marked the wish of the Croatian people to declare independence, which was confirmed at a referendum in May 1991. At a session on October 8 1991, the Sabor confirmed its decision of June 1991 to sever all constitutional relations with the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (SFRY). The Sabor adopted the first laws on an independent and sovereign Croatia - the Constitutional Decision on Sovereignty and Independence and the Declaration on the Establishment of the Sovereign and Independent Republic of Croatia. These decisions were confirmed not sooner than October because of a three-month moratorium, which was suggested by the international community. Croatia was internationally recognised on January 15, 1992 and the recognition procedure ended with its admission to the United Nations on May 22 the same year. Shortly after it gained independence, Croatia was admitted as an associate member to the Council of Europe and it became a full member in November 1996 after it fulfilled conditions set by the international community. This year, on May 25, Croatia became the 26th member of Partnership for Peace and the 46th member of the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council. (hina) mm rml