President: Croatia Lacks Development Strategies

The problem is that we lack a development strategy for agriculture, ship construction, energy and tourism, President Mesic said.

ZAGREB, CROATIA – Croatian President Stjepan Mesic told the Vecernji list daily that he believes Croatia can enter the European Union in 2010.

- If Croatia didn`t access the EU in 2010, I would think that I have done too little. I wouldn’t be pleased, but I think we can enter in 2010 – President Mesic said when asked what would he hold a personal failure after two presidential terms.

He added that he felt sorry many initiatives of his office were left misunderstood and were not accepted, but he also announced new initiatives.

- We will probably propose a government sitting and there is the option of holding a counselling sitting with economy theorists, with experts who will make us hear what needs to be done today when 37 billion euors of debt is before us, when we have to pay 11 billion this year and we have some 9 billion of reserves, gross. We should listen and see if there are ways of attaining new quality funds to overcome this debt, to pay it and come out less vulnerable. Or the proposal is to go along with the IMF – the Croatian President said, adding he disagrees with the IMF being the bankruptcy manager.

- The IMF has certain rules, which are clear: if we want their services, if we want their money, then we have to honour the game rules. And if we decide on it, then it needs to be seen how we can do it best for Croatia. We can detect a problem, but whoever has the legal obligation has to find the solutions – President Mesic said.

Concerning the current economy issues and problems, he pointed out that the government will have to cut things.

- It is definite that we want to remain a nautical country and ship construction falls under maritime affairs. Our shipyards are respected in Europe and in the world, it would not be a good thing to close them down. At the same time, it would not be a good thing to continue with the practice which states the budget only compensates for losses. This is simply unsustainable – Mesic said.

- The problem is that we lack a development strategy for agriculture, ship construction, energy and tourism. If we had them, decisions would have been made easier today. We now must do in a short period of time what we failed to do in time – Croatian President Mesic said.

Mesic believes that radical changes will come with the new US President Barack Obama, who will be one of the greatest American presidents, because every one of his speeches is for the books.

- America will again become a fortress of democracy and human rights protection with the new president (…), but they have to step forward in foreign policy. This means that they cannot be the world police. They have to solve world issues, but always with others, and not impose their solutions. I believe Obama will succeed in this and with the Russians, because Russia is a great power. It showed that it can affect the flow of world and European policy – Mesic said, pointing out he believes that bi powers, America, Russia and the EU, will come to an agreement,

When asked if there were any chances of him meeting with Obama before the end of his term, Mesic replied that he was not sure if that was possible:

- As far as we are concerned. It would be a very good thing, but great obligations are before Obama, in and outside America. Still,  would like for it to happen – Mesic said.

Mesic believes that the next Croatian president should be a pro-European person, aware of national interests and an anti-fascist. He said that perhaps he will say whom he is planning to support a month before the elections.

He is not thinking about retirement and political passivity, he want to perform the function of former president as good as possible.