Everyone should recognize, says Mesić

Outgoing Croatian President Stjepan Mesic has arrived in Kosovo, where he is meeting with Kosovo Albanian officials. Beside his meeting with Kosovo President Fatmir Sejdiu, Prime Minister Hashim Thaci and Assembly President Jakup Krasniqi, Mesic will address members of the assembly in Pristina. Everyone should recognize, says Mesic It has been announced that the Croatian president will also receive "one of the highest decorations of Kosovo". A ceremonial session of the Pristina assembly saw Mesic awarded as an honorary citizen of the town, reports said. The Croatian president, who arrived in Pristina together with a group of Croatian businesspeople, is also scheduled to have a meeting with the president of the Kosovo Chamber of Commerce and others from the business commuty. Mesic today in Pristina called upon "all countries to recognize the independence of Kosovo because that will contribute to the regional and European cooperation". After his meeting with Sejdiu, the Croatian president added that Croatia would help Kosovo to accomplish its "European aspirations". “Croatia is ready to help Kosovo on the path of the European integrations, which are Kosovo’s important future, with its experience and knowledge,” he said. According to the Croatian president, "Kosovo’s independence is new reality in the region". Sejdiu awarded the “Gold Medal of Independence” to Mesic for his and Croatia's contribution to “freedom and independence of Kosovo”. The Croatian president stated that Kosovo and Croatia had been nurturing "good relations even during the time of former Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia". While speaking about the war in Croatia that broke out in 1991, Mesic said that "Croatians will never forget the contribution of the citizens of Kosovo". Sejdiu for his part said that Croatia was especially important to Kosovo and expressed his wish to continue the cooperation, "which represents an example for other countries". “Kosovo also has the support of other countries and good cooperation with the neighbors, with the exception of Serbia. It is important for us to send the best possible signals regarding the cooperation which is in interest of both peoples and countries, but also what we call vision and aspirations to join the EU and NATO,” Sejdiu pointed out. Reports today said that Pristina was ecorated with flags of Kosovo and Croatia in honor of Mesic’s arrival, while billboards with his pictures have been placed at the main intersections. Observers point out that "Pristina did its best to welcome the Croatian president more ceremonially that any other state official from the region". The local media state that Kosovo Albanian authorities want to thank Zagreb for speaking on their behalf in front of the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which is currently deliberating legality of the unilateral independence declaration. However, Mesic's trip to Kosovo today did not provoke much interest of the Croatian public. On January 7, just a day ahead of his visit to Kosovo, the Croatian president decided to reduce by one year the sentence handed down to a former member of Croatian police Sinisa Rimac by one year. Rimac is a convicted murderer of ethic Serb civilians, who committed his crimes during the war in 1991. Mesic in Pristina today (Beta)

Everyone should recognize, says Mesić

It has been announced that the Croatian president will also receive "one of the highest decorations of Kosovo".

A ceremonial session of the Priština assembly saw Mesić awarded as an honorary citizen of the town, reports said.

The Croatian president, who arrived in Priština together with a group of Croatian businesspeople, is also scheduled to have a meeting with the president of the Kosovo Chamber of Commerce and others from the business commuty.

Mesić today in Priština called upon "all countries to recognize the independence of Kosovo because that will contribute to the regional and European cooperation".

After his meeting with Sejdiu, the Croatian president added that Croatia would help Kosovo to accomplish its "European aspirations".

“Croatia is ready to help Kosovo on the path of the European integrations, which are Kosovo’s important future, with its experience and knowledge,” he said.

According to the Croatian president, "Kosovo’s independence is new reality in the region".

Sejdiu awarded the “Gold Medal of Independence” to Mesić for his and Croatia's contribution to “freedom and independence of Kosovo”.

The Croatian president stated that Kosovo and Croatia had been nurturing "good relations even during the time of former Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia". While speaking about the war in Croatia that broke out in 1991, Mesić said that "Croatians will never forget the contribution of the citizens of Kosovo".

Sejdiu for his part said that Croatia was especially important to Kosovo and expressed his wish to continue the cooperation, "which represents an example for other countries".

“Kosovo also has the support of other countries and good cooperation with the neighbors, with the exception of Serbia. It is important for us to send the best possible signals regarding the cooperation which is in interest of both peoples and countries, but also what we call vision and aspirations to join the EU and NATO,” Sejdiu pointed out.

Reports today said that Priština was ecorated with flags of Kosovo and Croatia in honor of Mesić’s arrival, while billboards with his pictures have been placed at the main intersections.

Observers point out that "Priština did its best to welcome the Croatian president more ceremonially that any other state official from the region".

The local media state that Kosovo Albanian authorities want to thank Zagreb for speaking on their behalf in front of the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which is currently deliberating legality of the unilateral independence declaration.

However, Mesić's trip to Kosovo today did not provoke much interest of the Croatian public.

On January 7, just a day ahead of his visit to Kosovo, the Croatian president decided to reduce by one year the sentence handed down to a former member of Croatian police Siniša Rimac by one year.

Rimac is a convicted murderer of ethic Serb civilians, who committed his crimes during the war in 1991.