ZAGREB, May 30 (Hina) - "Over the past ten years since the advent of democracy in Croatia there have been difficult days, but also days to be remembered and proud of," Croatian President Stipe Mesic said in his address at a special
session of the Croatian National Parliament, held on the occasion of Statehood (Independence) Day. "I... invite the Croatian National Parliament and all other responsible public officials, and all the citizens, to support the Government in the drafting of the development strategy for the Republic of Croatia and in the implementation of this strategy."
ZAGREB, May 30 (Hina) - "Over the past ten years since the advent of
democracy in Croatia there have been difficult days, but also days
to be remembered and proud of," Croatian President Stipe Mesic said
in his address at a special session of the Croatian National
Parliament, held on the occasion of Statehood (Independence) Day.
"I... invite the Croatian National Parliament and all other
responsible public officials, and all the citizens, to support the
Government in the drafting of the development strategy for the
Republic of Croatia and in the implementation of this strategy."
#L#
... "The development strategy, industrial policy, enforcement of
the rule of law, the solution of the economic depression and the
conception of national security, along with the building of Croatia
as a country distinguished by security, lawfulness and prosperity,
are the basic strategic tasks of the Croatian National Parliament
and Government. Future generations will judge both our efforts and
our achievements in public office by the success in the
implementation of these tasks."
The current Croatian government has assumed responsibility for
running economy in very difficult circumstances and has
demonstrated its maturity, Mesic said.
Mesic said he himself had suggested some initiatives, emphasising
the initiative on changing the Constitution.
"As the process of constitutional amendment proceeds, I am
convinced that we shall arrive at the best solutions for a lasting
definition of parliamentary democracy in the Republic of Croatia.
"We need a modern democratic Constitution which will meet in the
best possible way Croatia's need for democratic legislative and
executive authorities and for an efficient system capable of
dealing with all possible crises in the political system."
Speaking about the past decade, Mesic said that in that period
"democracy has been established, the independent State has been
created and defended, the entire territory of the State has been
liberated, and the fundamental institutions of democratic
government developed - providing thereby the conditions for
further development and prosperity of the Republic of Croatia.
"However, at the same time, owing to false steps in the
transformation of public property, a great share of national wealth
was lost, Croatia was isolated for too long from modern European and
Atlantic integrations, and widespread corruption, abuse and fraud
are the consequences of the 'sin of the structures'.
"In spite of this, we have good foundations for building a developed
and prosperous Republic of Croatia, but this also implies our
commitment to full involvement and dedication in overcoming the
economic depression and pursuing a balanced social policy."
"... the time of Croatia's international isolation is a matter of
the past," Mesic said, stressing that Croatia is a member of NATO's
Partnership for Peace, that it expects to enter the World Trade
Organisation soon as well as develop better relations with its
neighbours; the country has also joined the work of the central
European circle of countries and is active in the Stability Pact.
"... Croatia is increasingly present in international relations,
and this encourages our conviction that progress to full membership
in NATO and the European Union will be faster than expected even by
the greatest optimists before the 3rd of January and 7th of
February.
"The cooperation of the Republic of Croatia with the International
War Crimes Tribunal and the clear determination to pursue this
policy will be sustained. We welcome the resolute approach of the
Tribunal until the war crimes committed during the dissolution of
the former Yugoslavia are entirely sanctioned.
"Our policy is unambiguous and it will remain unambiguous, and it is
based on three principles:
- Croatia will meet its commitments deriving from the
Constitutional Law on Cooperation with the International War
Crimes Tribunal, and we expect all other parties to act
accordingly;
- Guilt is an individual matter, and all persons suspected of war
crimes must face their own conscience and international justice;
- The line dividing politics and crime must separate legal and
legitimate defence on the one hand from conquest and ethnic
cleansing on the other.
"Let me convey a message, to our friends and to all those who support
us, that the Republic of Croatia will be active in the building of
the European family of nations.
... "Croatia wants to, and must, be fully involved in... the
processes (of global association) in order to proceed towards
development and prosperity for all its citizens.
"Croatia has a place in united Europe, and it is our responsibility
to attain this goal as soon as possible. Croatia will be a full
member of the European Union - the modern expression of united
Europe and its response to the challenges of global competition -
while retaining all the qualities of its national identity which
represent our contribution to the wealth of European cultures.
"In order to achieve this goal, we must first of all transform our
economy and develop our potentials. The economic situation in
Croatia is difficult, unemployment is still on the increase, and we
still have not found the proper way out of the current economic
depression."
... "The next step regards the need to develop a development
strategy and an industrial and economic policy which will lead the
country out of depression, increase employment, and provide for the
comprehensive development of manufacturing and technological
potentials, as well as for the development and prosperity of the
Republic of Croatia."
... "We must also support the Government in its endeavours to
strengthen the rule-of-law mechanisms and to turn Croatia into a
secure country, so as to open the door to direct foreign capital
investments and, thus, initiate development processes as well as
the transfer of modern technology, organisation and management."
... "The activity of all the security and judiciary services must
enhance the security of all citizens, from the members of
minorities and minority groups to the prevention of excesses
contrary to the interest of most Croatian citizens," Mesic said.
At the end of his speech, the President once again called on all
public officials to invest efforts in building Croatia as a country
of prosperity and security, and expressed congratulations to all
Croatian citizens on the occasion of Statehood Day.
(hina) jn rml