The president reaffirmed Croatia's European orientation and underlined the need to keep Bosnia and Herzegovina an integral state, saying this was in the interest of not only the region, but Europe and the world as well.
Plassnik reaffirmed Austria's undivided support for Croatia's accession to the EU. She recalled the support Austria and other neighbouring states gave Croatia when the EU was deciding about opening accession negotiations.
Plassnik underscored that the integration of Europe's southeast into the EU was in the interest of all member states, saying that Croatia could play the role of a leader and model in the region.