The Croatian National Bank should clearly define the country's monetary policy that would be implemented until its admission to the European Union, Mesic said in his opening remarks at an economic symposium in the northern Adriatic resort town of Opatija.
Mesic proposed that the Parliament hold a theme session before the end of the year to discuss a national development strategy and the most important international economic and financial agreements and documents.
"The documents and agreements with the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank cannot substitute for a national strategy of economic development," the president said, adding that proposals put forward by the international financial institutions on the repayment of the government debt to pensioners were not socially sensitive.
He said that economic reforms should be carried out on the basis of a general public consensus, the common good and unity in order to boost employment and economic growth.
As key economic policy goals, Mesic cited efforts to increase employment, economic growth and competitiveness and reduce imports by increasing domestic production.
Noting that ownership transformation and privatisation had not been carried out on the basis of knowledge and capital, Mesic stressed the need for a new privatisation model that would include managerial participation and giving shares to employees.
The symposium, entitled "Croatian Economic Policy in 2005", brought together about 450 economists, government officials and business people. It was organised by the Croatian Society of Economists (HDE) and the firm Inzenjerski biro d.d. and held under the patronage of President Mesic.
HDE President Vladimir Veselica said that it was necessary to raise the annual GDP growth rate to five or six per cent, and that Croatia might catch up with Slovenia in about five years if it used its resources properly.