Croatian Prime Minister Jadranka Kosor said in Zagreb on Monday that Croatians were marking their 20th statehood anniversary and the completion of the country's EU entry talks, a historic national project, with a deep feeling of pride.
Kosor made the statement in an address at a reception she gave for members of the diplomatic corps accredited in Croatia on the occasion of Croatia's 20th statehood anniversary. The reception was also attended by the president of the republic and the parliament speaker, government ministers, and the presidents of the Supreme and the Constitutional Court.
Kosor said that a European and democratic Croatia had been a goal since the very beginning of the Croatian state, as evidenced at the end of the negotiations with the EU, when Croatia "was recognised as a country with strong democracy, founded on the rule of law and respect for common European values."
"The completion of the accession talks and the prospective accession to the EU on 1 July 2013 is a symbolic end of the more difficult part of our past, but it is also a moment when new possibilities open up," Kosor said.
She said that Croatia's success in drawing closer to the EU was a success of all its citizens and institutions, adding that Croatia's EU entry would send a clear signal to the countries in the region that EU enlargement was possible provided the set reforms were implemented.
She added that Croatia's achievements so far were a guarantee of success in the future development of the country as an EU member.
Speaking on behalf of the diplomatic corps, Apostolic Nuncio Mario Roberto Cassari congratulated the PM, all Croatian political officials and citizens on the 20th anniversary of independence and sovereignty.
This noble country had to face various difficult events in the last two decades, but it made great efforts with courage and determination, and the positive results of those efforts are today clearly visible, the Apostolic Nuncio said in Croatian.
Regardless of the problems resulting from the economic crisis which has affected countries around the globe, careful and impartial observers today see in Croatia a rebuilt, modern, free and democratic country which respects others and is respected, said Cassari.
The head of the diplomatic corps said that Croatia could continue to count on the help of numerous friendly governments.
One thing is certain - Croatia truly deserves to be fully integrated into the EU, Cassari said.
