PRESIDENT MESIC ENDS HIS VISIT TO KRK

DOBRINJ, Sept 23 (Hina) - Croatia's President Stjepan Mesic finished his tour on the country's biggest island of Krk on Saturday evening. The President visited this northern island to attend today's ceremony on the occasion of the 900th anniversary of the Baska Stone Tablet, the most important among Croatia's ancient Glagolitic monuments considered the Croats' birth certificate. After the central event of the celebration Mesic went sightseeing. Asked to comment today's visit to Krk, which is regarded as the cradle of Croats' Glagolitism and literacy, Mesic expressed satisfaction with the media coverage of Saturday's events on the island. In this context he said the media unfortunately attached usually little attention to important cultural and historical events and monuments in Croatia. Few know when this first monument to the Croatian literacy and Glagolitism was discovered, as all of us are preoccupied with political topics, and it is not good, Mesic said. He advocated the protection and preservation of cultural monuments for future generations. The President also expressed his support to the recovery of islands and the coastal area adding that Croatia must make robust headway on foreign markets with its products. He also voiced hope that Croatia as well as this entire region would gradually undergo the process of democratisation. Prior to his departure from the island, President Mesic was presented with Krk's original folk instrument called 'sopile'. (hina) ms