Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) president Tomislav Karamarko on Monday expressed his satisfaction with Croatia's accession to the European Union, saying that this was a great day for the Croatian people and the beginning of a new phase in history.
To mark Croatia's accession to the EU, a HDZ delegation headed by Karamarko laid wreaths and lit candles at the Altar to the Homeland, Wall of Pain at Zagreb's Mirogoj cemetery and at the grave of Croatia's first president Franjo Tudjman.
"Today, July 1, we remember all those who dreamed and created this state. We are at Dr. Franjo Tudjman's grave, who was the originator of the idea of Croatia in Euro-Atlantic associations. We also visited the monument to our soldiers (from the Homeland War in the 1990s) who are most deserving that Croatia exists today", Karamarko told reporters after the ceremony.
He underscored that every average Croatian family, living in the darkness of communism and Yugoslavia dreamt of an independent Croatia, membership in NATO and the EU. "We've come home. There are no more stigmas of the western Balkans where we never belonged. We were always a central European state in the Mediterranean basin", he said. He hoped that a new, more capable government would soon lead Croatia in the proper direction.
Asked what sort of life citizens can expect in the EU, Karamarko said that nothing spectacular would occur over the next few days. He stressed that the HDZ would continue to fight to come to power as soon as possible and present citizens with an economic programme which would pull the country out of the current misfortune and maximally absorb what the EU is offering.
"Croatia can give a lot to Europe. It will enrich and embellish the EU", he said.
Karamarko pointed out that during negotiations Croatia took on standards that apply to the EU.
