Croatian President Stjepan Mesic, Parliament Speaker Luka Bebic and Prime Minister Ivo Sanader, held a regular meeting on Wednesday to discuss the current state of affairs, the Office of the President said in a statement. Sanader informed Bebic and Mesic of the process of drawing up the state budget for 2009, reiterating the need for cutting expenses. Also discussed was the U.S. presidential election, with all three Croatian officials once again expressing their conviction that the victory of Democratic candidate Barack Obama was the continuation of the policy of friendly and partner relations between the United States and Croatia and the continuation of support to Croatia's NATO membership bid, the statement said.