ZAGREB, June 17 (Hina) - The period since the January parliamentary election in Croatia has seen a more relax and better general atmosphere although the standard of living is currently lower as against the period prior to the
election, said a Vice President of the Social Democratic Party of Croatia (SDP), Davorko Vidovic, at the opening of a one-day round table on the implementation of the Stability Pact for South East Europe. The table, which is taking place in Zagreb, has been organised by Croatia's SDP and the Party of European Socialists (PES). Addressing participants, Vidovic, who is also Croatia's Labour and Social Welfare Minister, spoke about the current state of affairs in his country and about the last decade. "In the last ten years Croatia was an isolated European island, from which others shrank," Vidovic assessed. In that period Croatia was a 'prisoner' of three complex facts
ZAGREB, June 17 (Hina) - The period since the January parliamentary
election in Croatia has seen a more relax and better general
atmosphere although the standard of living is currently lower as
against the period prior to the election, said a Vice President of
the Social Democratic Party of Croatia (SDP), Davorko Vidovic, at
the opening of a one-day round table on the implementation of the
Stability Pact for South East Europe.
The table, which is taking place in Zagreb, has been organised by
Croatia's SDP and the Party of European Socialists (PES).
Addressing participants, Vidovic, who is also Croatia's Labour and
Social Welfare Minister, spoke about the current state of affairs
in his country and about the last decade.
"In the last ten years Croatia was an isolated European island, from
which others shrank," Vidovic assessed.
In that period Croatia was a 'prisoner' of three complex facts: the
fact that it had become an independent state with all other
characteristics such a situation included, the fact that the
process of gaining the freedom and sovereignty was marked by the war
for five years and the fact that it is a country in transition, he
explained.
This isolation determined first steps of the country's new
leadership, forced to take big steps in bids to open itself to
Europe and the world, Vidovic added
Vidovic cited huge economic problems in Croatia and explained that
the toughest task for the Government would be to recover the economy
and be careful not to aggravate the situation in the society.
Zagreb is expecting form Europe to support its endeavours, as it
wants to compensate for its delay in approaching Europe in the
previous period.
After Vidovic, a PES Vice President Akis Cohatzopulos, who is the
Greek Defence Minister and PASOK member, addressed the table with
the words "Dear, comrades!".
The main aim of this gathering are, for him, to draft a strategy for
south eastern Europe on the grounds of joint features of the
countries in the region which there are more than their differences
and to use the joint identity of PES member-parties for their
linking within the region.
As all countries in the south-east of Europe have the common goal to
enter the European Union and Euro-Atlantic integration processes,
the Stability Pact is an ideal social and democratic framework for
the accomplishment of that objective.
It would be wrong to exclude any country in the region from this
process, as this would mean that the country remains isolated and
such as would present a threat for peace and stability,
Cohatzopulos maintains.
(hina) ms