Zagreb, (IKA) – On October 20, the Croatian Prime Jadranka Kosor met with the Secretary of the Holy See for Relations with States, Archbishop Dominique Mamberti, at the Ban’s Palace, as announced by the Government Public Relations Office.
On this occasion, as in March of this year at a meeting with Pope Benedict XVI, Prime Minister Kosor repeated her invitation to the Holy Father to visit Croatia. She expressed her gratitude for the support that Croatia has received from the Holy See since its independence, especially during the recent war, as well as now at the completion of negotiations for accession to the European Union. The Prime Minister also expressed her gratitude for Pope Benedict XVI’s support concerning the Arbitration Agreement between Croatia and Slovenia. Speaking about the European Union, she commented upon the countries in the region and added that Croatia stands firmly in support of its neighbors on the Euro-Atlantic path. The Prime Minister noted that this support has been also manifested by the fact that Croatia has sent translations of the acquis communautaire of the European Union to all the countries of Southeast Europe. The accession of Croatia to the European Union is a guarantee of final and comprehensive peace in this part of Europe as well as additional support to the countries in the region on the same path. Prime Minister Kosor particularly emphasized support of Bosnia and Herzegovina as a unified state of three constituent peoples in which the Croatian people will have equal rights under the constitution.

Croatia has its place in the family of European nations, said the Secretary of the Holy See for Relations with States, Archbishop Mamberti, and this goal for Croatia is at hand. Accession to the European Union should be seen as joining a community of values, which is precisely why the Church fully supports the integration processes because they bring peace and unity,” said Archbishop Mamberti. The countries that enter the European Union bring their own riches, in the cultural and spiritual sense, and we are confident that Croatia will bring its fidelity into the European Union, as reflected through the work of the Blessed Alojzije Stepinac. Archbishop Mamberti expressed his full support of the Prime Minister’s position regarding Bosnia and Herzegovina, and stressed the Holy See’s support for that country. During the meeting, they also discussed efforts to combat the crisis and recession, as well as the economic recovery program.