AFP, February 18, 2010
Croatia's new president vows corruption fight
ZAGREB — Croatia's new President Ivo Josipovic vowed to lead an untiring fight against corruption and usher his country into the European Union in his inaugural speech on Thursday.
"In the fight for justice, as Croatia's president and its citizen, I will be the first and I will never get tired. I promise you that," left-wing intellectual Josipovic said after being sworn in as Croatia's third president.
"I went into presidential elections with a vision of a European, prosperous Croatia, and the key source of my motives was justice -- a moral and legal basis for a new and better society," he added.
"Together with the government, I will launch decisive moves and reforms needed so that Croatia can become an EU member as soon as possible," the 52-year-old law professor and classical music composer promised.
His swearing-in ceremony was held at Saint Marc's square in the old part of Zagreb, where the government and the parliament buildings are located.
Josipovic, accompanied by his wife and 18-year-old daughter, took the oath in front of 1,000 invited guests including presidents of 10 central and southeastern European countries and EU Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Fuele.
Notably absent was Serbian President Boris Tadic, who refused to attend to protest the presence of his Kosovo counterpart, Fatmir Sejdiu.
Belgrade rejects Kosovo's unilaterally proclaimed independence and considers the breakaway territory its southern province.
Zagreb has recognised Kosovo's independence and, while Josipovic said he regretted Tadic's decision, he stressed it would not harm Zagreb's ties with Belgrade.
Relations between the two countries remain sensitive since Croatia's 1991-1995 independence war from Yugoslavia during which Belgrade backed rebel Serbs.
"The development of good ties with neighbouring countries and the whole region is Croatia's strategic interest," Josipovic said at the ceremony.
"I am convinced that partnership in the region .... will result in prosperity of all countries that will culminate by the entry of all countries into EU."
The new president takes over from popular centrist Stipe Mesic, 75, who had held the post since 2000 and managed to turn the country into an outward-facing parliamentary democracy.
The nationalist and autocratic rule of Mesic's predecessor Franjo Tudjman, who led the nation through the 1991-1995 war, pushed Croatia into international isolation before his death in December 1999.
Zagreb, which joined NATO last year, hopes entry into the European bloc will signal a move away from the legacy of the 1990s wars that tore apart the former Yugoslavia.
The fight against corruption, especially at the highest levels, is one of the key criteria for Croatia to become an EU member by 2012.
Of the six former Yugoslav republics -- Bosnia, Croatia, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia and Slovenia -- only the latter has joined the 27-nation bloc.
Josipovic was due later Thursday to make his first address to the nation as president.
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