ZAGREB, Feb 14 (Hina) - Preparations for the ceremony at which Croatia's newly-elected President Stipe Mesic will be sworn in on February 18 at 1 p.m. have been completed, Croatian Deputy Premier Goran Granic told reporters in Zagreb
on Monday. The ceremony will be brief and simple, said Granic, who is in charge of preparations for the inauguration. He pointed out efforts were made to reduce costs as much as possible, and the initial budget of 1.2 million kuna (US$154,000) was cut down to about 400,000 kuna (US$51,300). Most of the cost covers special security measures for numerous foreign delegations which will attend. Interested citizens will also be able to follow the ceremony, Granic said, adding there would be no restrictions, except regarding space. Thirty-six foreign delegations have confirmed their arrival thus far, including ten presidents of state and representatives of internati
ZAGREB, Feb 14 (Hina) - Preparations for the ceremony at which
Croatia's newly-elected President Stipe Mesic will be sworn in on
February 18 at 1 p.m. have been completed, Croatian Deputy Premier
Goran Granic told reporters in Zagreb on Monday.
The ceremony will be brief and simple, said Granic, who is in charge
of preparations for the inauguration. He pointed out efforts were
made to reduce costs as much as possible, and the initial budget of
1.2 million kuna (US$154,000) was cut down to about 400,000 kuna
(US$51,300). Most of the cost covers special security measures for
numerous foreign delegations which will attend.
Interested citizens will also be able to follow the ceremony,
Granic said, adding there would be no restrictions, except
regarding space.
Thirty-six foreign delegations have confirmed their arrival thus
far, including ten presidents of state and representatives of
international institutions.
State delegations will be headed by Austrian President Thomas
Klestil, Bulgaria's Petar Stojanov, the Czech Republic's Vaclav
Havel, Hungary's Arpad Goenz, Macedonia's Boris Trajkovski,
Poland's Aleksandar Kwasniewski, Slovakia's Rudolf Schuster,
Slovenia's Milan Kucan, Turkey's Sulejman Demirel. Bosnia's
delegation will be headed by the chairman of the presidency.
Another ten to 15 delegations, including from several European
countries and the United States, are also expected to confirm their
attendance.
Granic announced he would meet today U.S. Ambassador to Croatia
William Montgomery, saying he was certain he would be given
confirmation of U.S. attendance.
Following the inauguration ceremony, there will be opportunity for
numerous official talks, Granic said, adding he and Foreign
Minister Tonino Picula would welcome the foreign officials at
Zagreb's airport.
Granic said the presence of numerous foreign officials indicated
support and a resolute attitude towards recent electoral results at
which, he said, Croatia's citizens opted for the continuation of
democratic changes and the building of civic society.
(hina) ha