With Havel's death, one of the greatest men of our times is gone and Croatia has lost a man who knew well the history of Croatian-Czech ties, who pushed for their development, the society said in a press release, adding that Havel had been among the first statesmen who understood what was happening in the former Yugoslavia.

He defended the legitimacy of the Croatian liberation Operation Storm and underlined that Croatia was an internationally recognised state with the right to establish its sovereignty throughout its territory, the press release said, recalling Havel's disagreement with the rule of former Croatian President Franjo Tudjman, because of which he visited Croatia for the first time in February 2000, to attend the inauguration of President Stjepan Mesic.

He made an official visit the following July, visiting Zagreb and Dubrovnik to attend the opening of the Dubrovnik Summer Games and spend part of his vacation in the coastal resort.

I firmly believe in Croatia's good future and its irreplaceable role in this long-suffering area, in its important role on the joint connecting Central Europe, the Mediterranean and the Balkans, Havel said in a toast at a dinner with Mesic.

The Croatian-Czech Friendship Society on November 15 organised a celebration of Havel's 75th birthday with a screening of the "Citizen Havel" documentary and the large audience turnout showed that he was recognised as an international great man and a friend of the Croatia, the statement said.