Vatican, April 6, 2000 (IKA) — This morning, the secretary of state of the Holy See for foreign relations, Archbishop Jean Louis Tauran, received the Croatian minister of foreign affairs, Tonino Picula. During their conversation, important questions between the Holy See and Croatia were mentioned. Archbishop Tauran announced after the meeting that the Holy See was interested in the new chapter being opened by the new Croatian Government. The Catholic Church and Holy See are prepared to cooperate with the development of democracy in Croatia, steadfastly affirming the religious values that are an integral part of Croatian culture. It is sufficient to remember what the Catholic Church has done for the Croatian nation through the centuries. Archbishop Tauran expressed satisfaction that cooperation has been re-established between the Church and the Government in Croatia, and between Croatia and the Holy See. He added that he hoped for increasingly positive bilateral relations in the future between the Holy See and the Republic of Croatia.
Following the meeting, Tonino Picula issued the following statement to the IKA correspondent in the Vatican: “We have established that there is a high level of agreement regarding the fundamental positions that determine the policies of the Republic of Croatia, especially regarding domestic and foreign affairs, as well as the fact that relations between the church and state in Croatia are constantly improving. The quality of our relations is certainly confirmed by our contracts signed between the Holy See and the Republic of Croatia that are being implemented. In addition, we have determined with satisfaction that there is a new openness, new dialogue between the state and the Catholic Church in Croatia. What is particularly encouraging and represents a pledge for our increasingly better relations is an identical attitude toward the situation in the countries neighboring Croatia. We have expressed our concern regarding the worsening relations in Southeast Europe that could occur due to the many unresolved economic and political questions. On behalf of the Government of the Republic of Croatia, I have conveyed the message that the new foreign policy orientation of the Republic of Croatia is based upon two basic facts: these are the ambition of this Government for the Republic of Croatia to be inducted into European Atlantic integration as soon as possible and to reinforce our good neighbor policy toward all our neighbors. The Holy See supports these ambitions and surely also recognizes the furthering of some of its own interests that depend upon the reinforcement of cooperation and peace in our part of Europe. I have also informed the Vatican secretary of state of Croatia’s ambition to participate far more actively in the projects of the Stability Pact, which will most likely result in bolstering the process of domestic democratiztion in all countries, the market economy process, and respect for human and minority rights. These are all fundamental interests that will certainly determine the foreign policy profile of the Republic of Croatia and, I want to believe, all the countries in our region.”