PRESIDENT MESIC HOPES CROATIA WILL ACCESS EU DURING HIS MANDATE

BUDAPEST, Oct 18 (Hina) - Wednesday's issue of the Hungarian daily 'Nepszabadsag' published an interview with Croatian President Stipe Mesic, headlined 'Via Hungary Into Central Europe', on the occasion of Mesic's two-day official visit to Budapest. #L# President Mesic says in the interview that Croatia and Hungary share many facts, both in history as well as culture and economy. "If Croatia wants to establish exceptionally good relations with somebody, that's Hungary," Mesic said. Speaking about Croatia's joining the European Union, Mesic expressed hope the country would join the EU during his mandate. Processes are moving in the direction of a united Europe since that is the only way to compete with America and Japan. It is therefore important to accelerate them, Mesic said. Nevertheless, countries in a united Europe should preserve their culture and identity. In that case, borders will not separate but connect us, says Mesic. The model of united Europe excludes war as a means of solving problems and that model will positively affect other parts of the world as well, he says. Asked what he expected of the November 24 summit of EU and south- east European countries in Zagreb, Mesic said he expected nobody would come empty-handed, both in the political and financial sense. The summit, he believes, can encourage the development of democracy and economy in the entire region. Mesic also expects the summit to provide answers to numerous open questions. Those include establishing that no one intends to form a new Yugoslav association, as it would have no sense whatsoever. Two earlier attempts ended in bloodshed. Only politically ignorant people would dare venture such a plan, Mesic said. (hina) jn rml