Stressing that one of his priorities since the beginning of his first presidential term had been the promotion of relations with neighbouring countries, particularly Italy, and that he believed to have laid foundations for better and broader bilateral relations with Italian President Carlo Azeglio Ciampi, Mesic said he was following with growing concern messages coming lately from some circles in the neighbouring country.
"Any, even the slightest indication of revenge-seeking or revision of notorious historical facts, cannot be welcomed in Croatia in any other way but with extreme disapproval. I am aware that Italy had provided us with wholehearted support before the opening of our EU membership talks. We are grateful for that support. But today I cannot but condemn any attempt to slow us down in the ongoing talks," Mesic said in a written statement issued today in response to announcements that Italy could set conditions for Croatia's negotiations with the EU.
The Italian media last week carried a number of statements by the highest Italian officials who, speaking on the occasion of foibe victims remembrance day, mentioned the possibility of setting additional conditions for Croatia's EU entry talks and reconsidering relations with Croatia due to the failure to solve outstanding issues in a way that would satisfy Italy.
On February 10 Italy remembers people thrown into karst pits known as foibe in Slovenia and western Croatia. The decision to commemorate those victims on February 10 was made in March 2004 with a nearly unanimous decision by the Italian parliament.
Speaking last Friday to representatives of Italian refugees who left the Croatian regions of Istria and Dalmatia after WWII, Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi said that Italy would use Croatia's accession talks to eliminate discrimination against Italian nationals buying real estate in Croatia.
"As regards compensation to the esuli, Slovenia has decided to pay into an international bank account in Luxembourg an amount defined by agreements. Croatia has not done this yet. Croatia must adapt to the EU and we can use our position. Croatia can be admitted only if our country agrees to it. We plan to use this situation to eliminate discrimination in the purchase of real estate. We must insist on that in order to make the Croatian government send a relevant regulation to parliament for adoption," Berlusconi was quoted last Friday in the Internet edition of La Repubblica daily.
Speaking on the occasion of Foibe Victims Remembrance Day, Italian Foreign Minister and Deputy PM Gianfranco Fini said that Croatia, whose integration with Europe was also desired by Italy, must first settle issues from its past.
Commenting on the property of Italian WWII refugees, Communications Minister Mario Landolfi said that the Italian government, primarily thanks to proposals by Deputy PM Fini, had made it clear that procrastination tactics could prompt Italy to reconsider its overall relations with Croatia and Slovenia.
President Mesic said in his statement today that he had been assured more than once at his meetings with Italy's highest state officials that Italy would stand by all previous international agreements.
"As President of the Republic I consider this to be the only possible position and I would never accept any arrangements that would question those agreements, including the Osimo Accords. Croatia will fulfil its obligations, but we will not accept any obligations towards Italy or any other country that are not defined by those agreements," Mesic said.
"We must at least have some amount of suspicion towards the Italian initiative to offer a large number of Croatian nationals Italian citizenship. Istria, Primorje, Dalmatia and the islands are inalienable parts of the Republic of Croatia. It is true that Italy played a role in their history that cannot be ignored, regardless of whether it was positive or negative. But the inhabitants of those areas today are Croatian nationals and moves that could question their loyalty to the Republic of Croatia cannot be beneficial to Croatia-Italy relations."
The Italian parliament last Friday passed a law offering the ancestors of members of the Italian minority in Croatia and Slovenia the possibility to obtain Italian citizenship.
"The Republic of Croatia remains committed to its policy of adopting European criteria and standards that will define our treatment of Italian citizens and citizens of any other EU country," Mesic said.
"I want this statement to be seen as a contribution by the Republic of Croatia and my personal contribution to removing obstacles that are appearing or will appear in the relations between Rome and Zagreb. Croatia wants to progress towards the European Union unburdened by any bilateral problems. But, as is well known, solving bilateral problems and disputes requires the will and readiness of both sides concerned. Our will and readiness should not be questioned in the least," Mesic said in his statement.