CROATIAN PRESIDENT STJEPAN MESIC IN THE U.S.

 

During his visit President Mesic lectured at Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government, opened the Croatian Consulate in Pittsburgh and held a speech at the UN Summit on children

 

Boston, Pittsburgh, New York, May 5, 2002 - On the first day of his visit to the United States, President Mesic met with Harvard University President Lawrence H. Summers, and held a lecture on South Eastern Europe at the prestigious John F. Kennedy School of Government. In his lecture entitled South Eastern Europe – From War to Stability, President Mesic said that Croatia chose a path of democracy after the 2000 elections, where the predominant role is given in respect for human and minority rights.

"The experience in the past has shown that there was more mutual understanding than conflict in the region of South Eastern Europe", said President Mesic, concluding that, "there is a good chance for the political stabilization of the region primarily because cooperation is in the interest of every South East European country, for they all have a common goal – integration into the Euro-Atlantic institutions".

During his visit to Pittsburgh the Croatian President opened the Croatian Consulate headed by Honorary Consul Dr. Marion Vujevich to cover the territory of the State of Pennsylvania. Dr. Marion Vujevich is a distinguished American physician of Croatian descent. The numerous Croatian diaspora in the state of Pennsylvania considers this event as a reward and an encouragement for their endeavors in the promotion of the Croatian-American partnership. President Mesic said that the Honorary Consulate is very important for the Croatian-American relation but also for the Croatian community in Pennsylvania, primarily referring to the merits of the Croatian-Fraternal Union, the oldest and most numerous association of Croats living in the U.S..

The Croatian President concluded his visit to the United States in New York, where he held a speech at the UN Summit on children on Wednesday, May 8. On that occasion President Mesic invited all the world’s politicians to make efforts and give their maximum so the children could have a better future.