Bulgaria Honors, Serbia Boycotts Croatia's Celebration

The new Croatian President, Ivo Josipovic, speaks at the swearing-in ceremony held on a historical St.Marc square squeezed between the parliament and government buildings in central Zagreb, Croatia, 18 February 2010. Photo by EPA/BGNES

Bulgaria's President Georgi Parvanov was among dozens of leaders, who attended the inauguration of Croatia's new president Ivo Josipovic on Thursday.

The ceremony was attended by 10 Balkan and central-European leaders, as well as an EU representative, with the notable exception of Serbian President Boris Tadi?. Washington sent Jacob J. Lew, Deputy Secretary of State.

Croatia's new president Ivo Josipovic promised to "never get tired" of working to strengthen democracy, fight corruption and get the nation into the European Union.

Josipovic said Thursday after taking his oath of office that he will focus on "decisive moves and reforms" needed to make Croatia an EU member soon and to nurture good relations with other Balkan nations.

He said Croatia "must be a home of democracy and human rights."

President Ivo Josipovic, 52, won Jan. 10 elections to replace Stipe Mesic, who helped move the ex-Yugoslav country closer to the West.

Serbia appeared to be the elephant in the room due to the absence of its president, Boris Tadi?. Tadi? boycotted the event, claiming that his presence could have been interpreted as tacit recognition of the authority of Kosovarian President Fatmir Sejdiu, who was present at today's event.

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