Croatian President Ivo Josipovic said at a meeting with Croatian emigrants in New York on Monday evening local time that the good news was that Croatia had completed its EU entry talks, even though that did not mean the end of reforms, while less pleasant news was that the economic situation in the country was not good.
A large number of Croats who live in New York gathered in the offices of Croatia's Permanent Mission at the UN to listen to President Josipovic's brief analysis of the situation in the country.
Josipovic arrived in New York earlier in the day to participate in the work of the 66th session of the UN General Assembly.
"Even though there has been some progress, Croatia has not overcome the crisis yet. However, this is not exclusively due to our own weaknesses, but also because of the global crisis," Josipovic said, adding that not enough had been done in terms of foreign investment either.
Josipovic said the next parliamentary elections would be held most probably on December 4.
He went on to say that the fight against corruption remained crucial, as did the settlement of relations with neighbouring countries, which he said were still burdened by serious problems such as border issues, the issue of missing persons, and the division of the former state's property.
The Croats attending the meeting with Josipovic were especially interested in his position on the work of the Hague war crimes tribunal and its verdicts against generals Ante Gotovina and Mladen Markac.
"That is a sensitive issue. Unfortunately, there were war crimes in the Homeland War, but Croatia waged a just war of defence. Personally, as a legal expert, I am not satisfied with the outcome of trials in The Hague, not only when it comes to the Croatian side. I'm not sure that the right people from Croatia were tried there either," he said.
"But we must accept the court's rulings, Croatia must respect the legal system," Josipovic added.
Asked to comment on a forthcoming rally to be organised by Croats in The Hague in support of Gotovina and Markac, Josipovic said it was part of freedom of expression, but he did not think that it would help the generals.
The Croat emigrants asked Josipovic a number of questions, inquiring mostly about conditions for studying in Croatia, the results of this year's tourist season, investments in Zagreb Airport, and the establishment of a ministry for expatriates. Asked directly if Croatia could end up like Greece, Josipovic said reforms were being undertaken so that that did not happen.
On Tuesday morning local time, Josipovic will attend a conference on Libya, held before the start of the 66th session of the UN General Assembly. The conference will also be attended by US President Barack Obama and many other world leaders who will discuss ways of helping Libya.
Later in the day, Josipovic will participate in the work of the Open Government Partnership, which is also to be attended by Obama.
Croatian Foreign Minister Gordan Jandrokovic did not travel to New York, sending State Secretary Mario Nobilo there on his behalf.
By Thursday evening, Josipovic will hold a number of bilateral meetings in New York.
Asked what position Croatia would take on the issue of recognition of Palestine, Josipovic said, "We want Palestinians and Israelis to negotiate a model of co-existence of two states."
"Our possible position, even though it is still too early to talk about it because we still don't know what is being proposed, will be that agreement is necessary."
