The session was attended by Prime Minister Jadranka Kosor and government ministers, President Ivo Josipovic, and Parliament Speaker Luka Bebic.

"We are celebrating the two decades of Croatia's statehood encouraged by our joint success - the accomplishment of our strategic goal of taking Croatia home, where it belongs - to Europe," PM Kosor said.

Despite all difficulties, Croatia has made it and will become the 28th EU member and take its rightful place in the European community of states and nations, Kosor said, expressing gratitude to Croatian veterans and the first Croatian president, Franjo Tudjman.

President Ivo Josipovic said Croatia had entered a stage in which democracy was no longer a goal one should settle with, but rather a means for enabling Croatians to live in prosperity. "Croatia has now entered a stage in which patriotism will have to be proven by creating conditions for the country's economic progress and the prosperity of its citizens," the president said.

Parliament Speaker Bebic said that by celebrating Statehood Day "we are primarily celebrating life in peace and freedom."

"We are close to signing an accession treaty with the EU, the leading political and economic association in the world," Bebic said, expressing gratitude to the current government, as well as to all previous governments.

After the government session, the senior state officials left for Vukovar to attend the central ceremony marking Statehood Day and the 20th anniversary of Croatia's independence.