ZAGREB, Nov 1 (Hina) - Croatian President Stipe Mesic on Thursday evening returned from a three-day official visit to Israel, which was the first visit of a Croatian President to Israel, with which Croatia has entered a period of new
relations with possibilities for the development of economic and other cooperation. Croatia's head of state arrived in Zagreb in a presidential airplane at 21.30 hours. Mesic assessed his visit to Israel as very successful because it removed all obstacles which had been burdening the Croatia-Israel relations since the establishment of the new Croatian state. Mesic's host and counterpart Moshe Katsav said Mesic's visit to Israel was historical and important. Speaking in the Israeli parliament, the Knesset, Mesic has apologised to the Jewish people for Ustashi crimes committed against them during World War II and has called for the continuation of the prosecution of Nazi war criminals, whic
ZAGREB, Nov 1 (Hina) - Croatian President Stipe Mesic on Thursday
evening returned from a three-day official visit to Israel, which
was the first visit of a Croatian President to Israel, with which
Croatia has entered a period of new relations with possibilities
for the development of economic and other cooperation.
Croatia's head of state arrived in Zagreb in a presidential
airplane at 21.30 hours.
Mesic assessed his visit to Israel as very successful because it
removed all obstacles which had been burdening the Croatia-Israel
relations since the establishment of the new Croatian state.
Mesic's host and counterpart Moshe Katsav said Mesic's visit to
Israel was historical and important.
Speaking in the Israeli parliament, the Knesset, Mesic has
apologised to the Jewish people for Ustashi crimes committed
against them during World War II and has called for the continuation
of the prosecution of Nazi war criminals, which was hailed in
Israel.
The Croatian President also visited the holocaust memorial centre
in Jerusalem, Yad Vashem, and expressed regret about crimes
committed against Jews during the quisling regime in Croatia.
Mesic held a series of bilateral talks with top Israeli officials.
He ended his visit by inviting Israeli President Katsav to visit
Croatia, while the Israeli side invited Croatian Prime Minister
Ivica Racan to visit Israel.
The Croatian delegation also included businessmen who began talks
aiming at better trade with Israel. Negotiations on a free trade
agreement were also initiated.
(hina) it