Outgoing Croatian head of state Stjepan Mesic has said he believes that President-elect Ivo Josipovic will be "an excellent president", and commended him for his well-planned campaign.
"Our citizens have recognised the values which Ivo Josipovic willrepresent. They have seen him as the man who will preserve Croatia's interestsin the best possible way," Mesic said in his office on Friday during hislast New Year's reception as President of the Republic.
In response to reporters' questions about whom he would take from thepresident's office personnel to his new office, Mesic said that an adviser andan administration employee would be transferred to his new office, explainingthat he still should hold talks with them to see whether they agreed with thistransfer.
Mesic believes that Josipovic will retain some of the personnel at thepresident's office who could, as professionals, help the newly-electedpresident to see to it that the office runs smoothly.
Mesic, who had a say in the selection of his bodyguards, added thatJosipovic should be given the right to propose models for organising hissecurity and that he should meet for talks on the matter with the Minister ofthe Interior, Tomislav Karamarko.
