It is awe-inspiring to see a list of remarkable people, scholars, scientists, politicians, writers and artists in the 2,400-year-long history of Stari Grad and your contribution to Croatia and to the development of European culture and tradition, Josipovic said.
Recalling that Croatia was now on the threshold of the European Union, Josipovic called for using the benefits of EU membership, including EU funds.
"European funds are a priority and it is important to us to have Europe recognise us and be willing to invest here, treating us as a part of the European project," the president said, explaining that the European Union would not give anything for free and that cooperation was necessary at all levels of government.
Josipovic once again criticised ownership transformation and privatisation in Croatia in the 1990-ties.
"I am aware that the wheel of history cannot go backward and that privatisation was a must when we decided to change the social system, but it could have been done more fairly," he said.
In attendance at the Town Council's commemorative session were Social Democratic Party MPs Zoran Milanovic, Arsen Bauk and Igor Dragovan, MP Vesna Pusic of the Croatian People's Party (HNS), and MP Milorad Pupovac of the Independent Serb Democratic Party (SDSS).
Town Council chairwoman Djurdjica Plancic called on them to lobby for "a more serous government policy" towards islands.