Croatian President to visit Sri Lanka
[November 12, 2002  - 7.00 GMT]

Croatia is a comparatively new Nation located in South-eastern Europe that lies between Slovenia and Bosnia Herzegovina, bordering the Adriatic Sea. More than one third of Croatia is forested, and lumber is a major export. Croatia also has oil fields and deposits of bauxite, copper and iron ore.

The Croats, who make up some 80% of the Republic’s population, are Roman Catholic. Both Croats and Serbs speak Serbo-Croatian. Croatia apart from Slovenia is the most industrialized and prosperous of the former republics of Yugoslavia.

Tourism, especially along the Adriatic coast, is important to Croatia’s economy that was severely curtailed during the warfare of the early 1990s; the tourist trade has for the most part recovered.

Croatia became an independent state on the 25th of June 1991. Despite being beset by many problems since independence, today the country's war wounds have mostly healed, and its economy shows signs of a slow, but steady, improvement.

Stjepan Mesic, often called Stipe Mesic, was elected president of the Republic of Croatia on 7 February 2000, succeeding Franjo Tudjman, whose death prompted the elections. Mesic a pro-European and pro-NATO centrist vowed to be the opposite of his nationalist predecessor. Mesic was born on 24 December 1934 in the town of Orahovica. He graduated with a law degree from the University of Zagreb in 1961, where he was a prominent student leader. He started his political career as a member of parliament of the Socialist Republic of Croatia. In the early 1970s, when Josip Broz Tito was in power in Yugoslavia, Mesic was imprisoned for one year for promoting Croatian nationalism.

In the first multi-party elections in 1990, Mesic was appointed the first prime minister of Croatia. By decision of the Croatian parliament, he became the republic's member of the Yugoslav presidency until the federation's break-up in December 1991. In 1997, Mesic joined the centrist Croatian People's Party. He became the party's executive vice-president, but left the party after being elected, saying he wanted to be President of all Croats.

During his first year in office, he has supported investigations into corruption under the former regime, reformed the state-run media, and consistently stressed reconciliation with Croatia's neighbours. This new line from Zagreb has generated considerable enthusiasm for Mesic's Presidency. On July 18, 2000, Croatia was admitted into the World Trade Organization. The country continues to make strides toward joining the European Union.

Croatia’s President and Madam Milka Mesic are due to make an official visit to Sri Lanka later this week. A Croatian trade mission will also be here to explore business opportunities in Sri Lanka. President Mesic will sign a Memorandum of Understanding with President Chandrika Kumaratunga.

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Last Updated Date: November 12, 2002  - 7.00 GMT.