Apart from Mesic, the session was attended by Prime Minister Jadranka Kosor, President-elect Ivo Josipovic, Culture Minister Bozo Biskupic, Transport Minister Bozidar Kalmeta, and numerous guests.

"Dubrovnik wants to be the regional, political, economic and cultural seat of southeast Europe. We want to be the headquarters of the European Union enlargement office for the southeast and a candidate for the European culture capital," said Mayor Andro Vlahusic.

Speaking of national challenges, he said Dubrovnik was aware of the difficult economic situation and had understanding for the slowed down construction of a highway to Dubrovnik, but asked for the government's unequivocal support in ensuring quality power supply, the construction of a power station, the construction of a road between the airport and the seaport terminal, and the construction of a sewerage system on the islands and in the hinterland.

"The government will support Dubrovnik and will build a HRK 500 million power station in three years' time for which HRK 80 million has already been set aside this year," said PM Kosor, adding Dubrovnik held a privileged and mythical place in Croatian tradition and that it was a hotbed of Croatian culture.

She also recalled the soldiers who had defended the town and the county during the 1991-95 war.

President Mesic said Dubrovnik had an important and central part in Croatian history as well as a big part in Croatia's defence and international recognition in the recent past.

"Good relations with neighbours are prerequisites for the stabilisation of Europe's southeast, and it is our interest that other countries, too, adopt European standards as soon as possible," Mesic said, adding one must not allow politics to ever again become a means of satisfying private interests instead of serving the common good.

He also said the fight corruption was one of the biggest challenges of Croatian politics.