Prime Minister Jadranka Kosor said in her Christmas message, which was broadcast by Croatian television stations on Friday evening, that she was confident that next year Croatia could accomplish three important goals -- consolidate the rule of law, overcome the recession and complete European Union membership negotiations.
"Croatia can do it and it deserves it. We have the strength and knowledge, and we have laid the ground to achieve these three very important goals already next year," Kosor said.
"EU entry is the strategic goal we set ourselves 20 years ago when we embarked on realising the thousand-year-long dream of the Croatian people for their own sovereign, democratic, independent and pro-European state. This goal was pursued by all Croatian governments, regardless of their party affiliation. That goal is now within our reach, as was officially confirmed last week by EU heads of state and government," the PM said.
Kosor said she was confident that next year, when Croatia celebrates the 20th anniversary of a historic resolution by the Croatian Parliament declaring independence of Croatia, "we will be able to say that Croatia has also achieved its goal of returning home to Europe where it has always belonged."
"I know that the EU is not a solution for everything, but it is a good framework for faster development and more effective resolution of problems, and they are many. Those are very concrete problems that are not dealt with with slogans, passionate speeches or clashes of vanities on the political scene," she said.
"Although many are telling us that 2011 will be a lost year, I am confident that 2011 will be a turning point for Croatia in achieving its strategic goals. Croatia has finally begun to function as the rule of law where everyone is equal before the law," Kosor said.
Kosor said that in 2011 her government would continue along the road towards EU membership, encouraging economic growth and new investments and fighting corruption.
In conclusion, Kosor said that she would do her best to ensure that the Nativity Scene, "which reminds us that a person's true value is hidden in their modesty, and that it's not those who ask to be served that are great, but it's those who are ready to serve others," became "a paradigm for the renewed concept of public service and for a new understanding of politics in Croatia."
"In the spirit of Christmas, the holiday of life and hope, I wish to share with you my belief that together we can build Croatia as a country of solidarity and prosperity," the Prime Minister said.
