Croatian President Stjepan Mesic on Monday received French Senate President Gerard Larcher, who conveyed the undivided support of the French government and opposition parties for Croatia's entry into the European Union, President Mesic's Office said in a statement.
Larcher said Croatia was the first country he was visiting since taking office, adding that this showed the importance he attached to Croatia and the region. He stressed the importance of reforms in the judiciary and public administration and the importance of a continued fight against crime.
President Mesic and Larcher agreed that Croatian-French relations were developing well, but noted that additional efforts should be made to expand them to other areas such as the economy and culture. The talks also focused on the situation in the region, particularly in neighbouring Bosnia and Herzegovina and the present and future role of the international community in that country.