Croatia and Greece have confirmed an exceptional closeness of stands not only in bilateral relations, but also in terms of issues that relate to the region and the international community, and have expressed an intention jointly to build the future in this part of the world and contribute to new relations in Europe, President Mesic and his Greek counterpart Karolos Papulias said to journalists in a joint statement.

The Greek president arrived on Tuesday upon Mesic's invitation, in a three day official visit, as a head of the delegation. Immediately after the ceremonious welcome in RC President's Office, the two state heads first talked separately, and then headed the talks between the delegations.

After the talks, the ceremony of bestowing orders was held, and on that occasion, Mesic conferred to his Greek colleague the High Order of King Tomislav with a sash and Danica for an exceptional contribution in promoting the friendship and development of mutual co-operation between Croatia and Greece.

In the joint statement for journalists, Mesic appraised the talk with Papulias as friendly and open; they talked about bilateral relations, the issues in this part of Europe and current world crises, and the two collocutors, as Croatian President stressed, 'expressed highly harmonised stands'.

- We mutually confirmed that we want jointly to build future in this part of Europe, and through our friendly and close relation, contribute to new relations in Europe – Mesic said.

Croatian President reminded that the visit of President Papulias is happening in the year full of symbolism for bilateral relations of the two countries, in which 15th anniversary of Croatia's recognition is being marked, and establishing of diplomatic relations.

He also stressed that both leaders during the talk ascertained that Croatian-Greek relations in recent times are gaining a new momentum, and expressed a belief that this visit on the high level will contribute to intensifying of the total co-operation for which there are excellent prerequisites and a fully laid legal framework.

The Greek president also confirmed to journalists that this talk with President Mesic made obvious the identical stands of the two countries on topics of joint interest.

- We have confirmed joint stands of Croatia and Greece that all problems have to be resolved peacefully and through negotiations, and I believe it is mutual interest that the problems of the region be solved in the same way – Papulias said, expressing regret over the fact that the entire region suffered much in various conflict that brought no benefit to anyone.

Greek President hailed Croatia's entry into the EU, and established that from the very beginning Greece has been giving stimulus and support to Croatia for it.

-It is going to be a great political event, not only for Croatia, but for the wider region as well, because a nucleus of peace will be created in these areas – Papulias said, adding that he had said that during the recent visits to Rumania and Bulgaria.

- Croatia's entering the EU will round up the integration of the western Balkans into the EU, as an essential and dynamical part of Europe – Papulias stressed.

Greek President established that the possibilities of co-operation between Croatia and Greece are great, especially in the area of trade, entrepreneurialship and tourism, stressing that those relations currently lag behind the political ones.

To a journalist's question why Croatia lags behind with entering the EU and the NATO, President Mesic said that the most important reason for delay is the war which was forced on Croatia, which Croatia went through, and its consequences.

He also assessed that Europe has ventured into future in which there is not going to be any wars, because the motive for which wars had been waged has gone, and that is the expansion of the territory.

He appraised European uniting as a millennium enterprise which is based on the interest of the small and big, which excludes the use of war as a political means.

- Europe is widening its borders, and we want to achieve such atmosphere in the South East Europe. We want to open the borders and co-operate, but especially to achieve that national minorities be bridges of co-operation and connecting, and not a motive to domicile peoples for expansion of the territory. For this reason, Croatia is committed to speeding up the process of EU expansion – Mesić said in an answer to a journalist's question.

Greek President Papulias after the meeting with Mesic, talked with Parliamentary Speaker Vladimir Seks, while in the afternoon scheduled visit was seeing sights of Kaptol and the centre of the town as well as seeing the exhibition in Zagreb archaeological museum.