At the end of his two-day visit to Zagreb, capital
of the Republic of Croatia, His Holiness Vishwaguruji met with
Croatian President Stjepan Mesic on Wednesday, December 19, 2007.
His Excellency Rajiva Misra, Ambassador of India to Croatia, and Mr.
Budimir Loncar, former Yugoslavian Minister of Foreign Affairs and
present Special Advisor to the President, were present at this
meeting and were talking for almost one hour in a congenial
atmosphere. President Mesic had a warm conversation with H. H.
Vishwaguruji, sharing with him many ideas and plans. His Holiness
particularly addressed some actual problematic points to the
President and his advisor Mr. Loncar:
President Mesic showed a vivid interest in these
subjects. He assured his support for the petition to the Indian
Government to preserve the historical and archaeological monument of
Ram Setu and that it should be declared by UNESCO officially as a
World Heritage site. Furthermore, the President promised to plead
for issuing visa to Indian residents less bureaucratically.
They also discussed possible ways how to grant equal rights
and give opportunity for integration to the Roma people, in European
countries and worldwide. The President informed Swamiji that in
Croatia as the first and only country in Europe, Roma may be
represented in representative bodies at local and regional levels,
and elect special representatives to the Croatian Parliament. In
this manner, Roma will be able to participate in all activities and
decision-making on all matters important for their life.
His
Holiness Vishwaguruji announced to the President that the World
Peace Summit – The Message of Mahatma Gandhi and Sri Swami
Madhavandananda, launched by Sri Swami Madhavananda World Peace
Council (that was hosted in Zagreb in 2006), will in 2009 be
organised in cooperation with Yoga in Daily Life Hungary and will
deal in particular with the situation of the Roma in the conflict
zones of central Europe.
His Holiness also invited the
President to attend the next World Peace Summit at Wellington New
Zealand, in March 2008, which is targeted especially to address the
threat of climate change by creating public awareness and
receptiveness for sustainable agriculture, industry, consumer
behaviour and energy usage.
President Mesic expressed again
his acknowledgement and appreciation of His Holiness Vishwaguruji’s
work for peace and humanitarian acitivies worldwide, and Swamiji
presented to His Excellency a first copy of his newest book
“Selected pearls” recently printed in Croatian language.
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