Croatia's difficult path would have been even more difficult if there had been no permanent assistance from the Vatican and the two popes, and therefore, the Holy See deserves a particular place in the hearts of Croatians, Prime Minister Zoran Milanovic said at a round table on the relations between his country and the Holy See in the last 20 years.
At the event held in the Vatican on Monday evening, Milanovic particularly thanked the deceased Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI for all they had done for Croatia.
The Vatican has always been a good friend of Croatia and helped the country to accomplish its legitimate and noble goals, he said.
"Therefore you deserve a particular place in our hearts," he added.
"I am the leader of a left-of-centre government and our social values do not always correspond in every sense with yours, but it is the essence of democracy: talks and patience. If we want to improve the state of affairs, and this is the essence of political work, we must be patient and listen to people, and this is something that the Catholic Church can teach us," the Croatian premier said.
As for Croatia's entry into the European union on 1 July 2013, Milanovic said that the mission would not be completely done without the full integration of all countries from the former Yugoslavia into Europe.
He said that he hoped that the Vatican shared this opinion and recalled that it was Croatia's interest given that a certain number of Croats lived in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Milanovic, was received in audience Monday morning by Pope Benedict XVI, on the occasion of the twentieth anniversary of diplomatic relations between Croatia and the Holy See. The prime minister’s audience with the Holy Father was followed by meetings with Cardinal Secretary of State Tarcisio Bertone S.D.B. and Archbishop Dominique Mamberti, secretary for Relations with States, the Vatican reported on its web site.
"These meetings enabled the parties to discuss the challenges which Croatia is currently facing, both with regard to the economic crisis, as well as on issues of mutual interest within the framework of bilateral relations. As regards the well-known case of Dajla, the two parties agreed to resolve the question as soon as possible, in the spirit of traditional friendship between the Holy See and the Republic of Croatia," according to the Holy See's website.
"Finally, the Holy See reiterated its support for Croatia's legitimate aspirations to full European integration, and consideration was given to the regional situation, with particular reference to the situation of Croatians in Bosnia and Herzegovina."
