Croatia's admission to the European Union on 1 July is certainly a historic event, but no miracles should be expected, notably in the economic recovery of the country, Croatia's President Ivo Josipovic said in an interview with the France Presse news agency.
"The first of July is an important date, a historic moment. This will be the first day of a new era for Croatia. But no miracle will happen," Josipovic said in the interview published on Tuesday.
In response to the news agency's remark that Croatia has been in a recession for four years now, Josipovic said that "the economic crisis is still on, but I believe that we are stronger when being united. Finally, Europe will exit the crisis by concerted effort."
Josipovic went on that say that many Croatians, with 20% of them out of work, are not in a mood to celebrate the EU membership now when the country is faced with big economic difficulties. However, a majority of Croatians see the entry into the EU as a 'victory', he added.
"The citizens are looking forward. EU entry ceremonies will be nice and emotionally-charged, but they will be modest due to the economic situation," the Croatian president said.
Josipovic pledged "civilised" efforts to solve Croatia's border disputes with its neighbours: Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Montenegro and other issues stemming from the legacy of the break-up of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (SFRY).
Croatia will not use its status as an EU member-country to blackmail, he said in this context.
He also advocated the strengthening of Croatia-Serbia relations and pragmatism in efforts to overcome the consequences of the 1991-1995 Homeland Defence War when Serb rebels, supported by the then government in Belgrade, occupied one third of Croatia with a death toll of 20,000.
As for Croatia's genocide lawsuit against Serbia and the latter's counter-suit before the International Court of Justice, the AFP has said that those legal actions are still casting shadows on the bilateral relations.
"One should see whether there are still reasons to justify the suit," said Josipovic. The news agency recalls that Josipovic, a professor at the Zagreb law school, was one of the authors who compiled Croatia's legal action against Serbia in 1999.
Josipovic also pushed for the continuation of European Union enlargement to include all southeastern European countries.
