MESIC IN EASTERN CROATIA: HOMELAND WAR CAN'T BE CRIMINALISED

NASICE/ZLATNA GREDA, Dec 22 (Hina) - Visiting Osijek-Baranja County in the east, President Stipe Mesic on Friday attended the unveiling of Resurrected Croatia, a monument to Homeland Defence War soldiers. The president said last decade's war of independence from the ex- Yugoslavia had been an exalted war which could not be criminalised by anyone, something he stressed should stop. "It was a war in which we defended our state. They gave Croatia freedom and Europe peace. Because if Croatia hadn't won that war, broader regions would be bleeding. We remember those who honourably served their homeland. They fought, giving what is most valuable, their lives, which binds us to create what they wanted, a democratic, law-based and wealthy Croatia pleasant to live in. Now we have to nurture good relations with our neighbours. We have to achieve the goal to access Europe, but also to protect our interests," said Mesic. The Resurrected Croatia monument is the work of sculptor Stipe Sikirica and has been erected by the town of Nasice. Mesic laid a wreath and lit a candle. Wreaths were also laid by delegations of the county, Nasice, and veterans' associations. Before Nasice, President Mesic attended the opening of Zlatna Greda, a ranger's station reconstructed within a Croatian Forests economic recovery programme. Mesic said this kind of reconstruction was very important for the economy, and that hunting was promising for tourism. (hina) ha