Croatia voices gratitude to John Paul II for supporting independence

Lawmakers in staunchly Catholic Croatia adopted a document Wednesday expressing the country's gratitude to Pope John Paul II for his support for its independence from the former Yugoslavia and accession to the European Union.

"Croatian people voice gratitude for his (the pope's) lasting, consistent and immeasurable support to Croatia in the most difficult times of war and to Croatian efforts to be integrated into the union of European peoples," read the so-called charter of gratitude.

A parliamentary session began with a minute of silence to pay tribute to the late pontiff, who has visited the Balkan country three times.

The Vatican was among the first, on January 13, 1992, two days before EU countries, to recognize Croatia's independence from the former Yugoslavia. Zagreb's move sparked the 1991-95 war with rebel Serbs.

The charter adopted on Wednesday is the third document of its kind. The previous two were adopted to honor late nationalist president Franjo Tudjman and Croatian soldiers who fought during the 1991-95 independence war.

Croatia, where almost 88 percent of its population of 4.4 million are Roman Catholics, began a three-day mourning period on Monday as a sign of respect for the late pontiff.

Both President Stipe Mesic and Prime Minister Ivo Sanader are to attend the pope's funeral Friday.