Zagreb  - Barack Obama's election victory opens "a new chapter" in US relations with the rest of the world, Croatia's president said Wednesday.

Stjepan Mesic congratulated the US president-elect in a statement.

"I am convinced your arrival as US president will mark the start of a new chapter, not only in the lives of many of your compatriots, but also of US relations with the world and of the world's relations with the US," Mesic said.

Many Croats welcome the new face to represent US policy, with frequent comparisons of Obama's charisma to that of slain president John F. Kennedy. (dpa)