PM says Croatia has achieved fundamental national goals

Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic said on Sunday, on the occasion of Statehood Day, that Croatia had achieved all the fundamental national goals set in the late 1980s and early 1990s, and should now focus on improving the standard of living and ensuring a stable and tolerant society.

Plenkovic, President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic and Parliament Speaker Gordan Jandrokovic laid wreaths and lit candles at Zagreb's Mirogoj cemetery on the occasion of Statehood Day, which is observed in memory of 25 June 1991 when the Croatian parliament adopted the historic decision to launch Croatia's disassociation from the other republics of the then Yugoslav federation.

Before Mass at Zagreb's Cathedral, the three top state officials spoke to the press, congratulating citizens on Statehood Day.

Grabar-Kitarovic said she wished for everyone to spend it by respecting the past but with an optimistic look to the future and to tackle all the challenges, from demography and employment to economic growth, living standards and education reform.

Plenkovic said Croatia and its people had done a lot, from defending the country from Slobodan Milosevic's Great Serbia regime and military aggression to achieving international recognition, development of democracy and institutions, respect for human rights, and European Union and NATO accession.

He said the goals ahead included higher employment, economic growth, development, stability of public finances, sustainability of the current policy, higher wages, and especially Croatia's demographic revitalisation. He noted that the number of the jobless was the lowest in years.

Jandrokovic said Statehood Day was a very important date in recent history as it had created the legal foundation for Croatia's independence and sovereignty.

"We should therefore remember those deserving the most credit, firstly president Franjo Tudjman, the defenders and everyone who took part in it," Jandrokovic said.

"We have the obligation to make society and the state as good as possible for living, in which political stability, mutual respect and tolerance for diversity are essential. We are aware that people have different world views but we must be aware that those who think differently aren't our enemies but probably people who also wish to build a Croatia that will be good for living for all our citizens," the parliament speaker said.

Asked if he thought Zagreb's Marshal Tito Square should be renamed Franjo Tudjman Square, Jandrokovic said changing the name was originally the ruling HDZ party's idea.

Text: Hina

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