President Ivo Josipovic gave a reception at Zagreb's Vatroslav Lisinski Concert Hall on Wednesday on the occasion of the Christmas and New Year's holidays for more than a thousand eminent figures from politics, culture, sports and the public life, recalling the most important moments for Croatia this year and announcing his expectations for 2012.
Josipovic said the completion of accession negotiations with the European Union was one of the most important events of 2011, adding that it was the result of the work of several generations of politicians, from the Ivica Racan to the Jadranka Kosor cabinet, and of the contribution of all citizens ready for reforms, many experts and negotiating teams.
The president said Croatia now had to include all of its institutions in the running of the EU to which, he said, Croatia was not giving its sovereignty but investing part of it to get more.
He recalled the intensified clampdown on corruption and organised crime, saying the first results were visible and that the final ones would be those handed down by courts in final verdicts. He called on those in attendance to support the fight against corruption so that Croatia was never marked as a highly corrupt country.
Croatia has made great progress regarding its citizens' rights and freedoms, and international observers also have assessed that new steps have been made in the protection of human rights, national minorities and religious freedoms, Josipovic said, voicing confidence that more would be done on that front in 2012.
The president said that despite the many successful "small" people he met on his travels across Croatia, one must not forget the huge number of those who lost their jobs and whose livelihood was in danger. He added that when one looked at Croatia as economically successful in 2012, there must be solidarity with those deprived of the right to work and the chance to succeed.
Speaking of the December 4 parliamentary election, Josipovic said it was held in the best democratic tradition and that this was also the case with the transfer of authority under way. He said this did not mean the election system could not be improved, which he expects of parliament and the new government, especially with regard to voter registers.
Given the difficult year and economic situation, expectations of the new government are very big, a turnabout is expected, as are new possibilities, investments and jobs, the president said, adding that Croatia could be better and more successful, an example to other countries.
Becoming an EU acceding country, Croatia has also assumed the obligation to be the catalyst of positive change in Southeast Europe, and it has already done a lot in the building of new relations in a once war-torn region and in the cushioning of the consequences of military aggression, war and suffering, he said.
The president said the task of the government and society as a whole was to remove the bureaucratic shackles so that the economy could get started, adding that citizens should be given new optimism and that science, culture and education were important pledges for the future.
Among those in attendance were outgoing Parliament Speaker Luka Bebic, Prime Minister Designate Zoran Milanovic, former President Stjepan Mesic, outgoing and incoming ministers, religious dignitaries and members of non-governmental organisations, but not outgoing PM Jadranka Kosor.
President Josipovic wished them happy Christmas and New Year's holidays, that 2012 be better than 2011, and "personal happiness, success and well-being".
