"Serbs and Croats, like French and Germans"

Croatian PM Ivo Sanader says the importance of his visit to Belgrade is in the fact that dialogue between the two countries has been renewed. Awareness has been reinforced regarding the fact that Croatian-Serbian relations are the foundations of stability in the region, he told Tanjug news agency in an interview. "Serbs and Croats, like French and Germans" Bu, Sanader, who was on a visit to Belgrade ealrier this week, also added that he remained firm in his stand that outstanding issues, such as the genocide lawsuits filed by the two countries against each other before the International Court of Justice in The Hague, require time and that they should be resolved step by step. "There should be talks always, in every situation. We have had a difficult past, but we wish to build a different future, and that is what is characteristic for this generation of politicians," Sanader said. Elaborating on this statement, the Croatian premier gave the example of the French and the Germans, "until yesterday the biggest enemies in European history, who waged wars for centuries, and yet today present the foundations of the European Union, and their cooperation is the backbone of European integrations". Sanader expressed confidence that "Croatia and Serbia can and must be precisely that in southeastern Europe tomorrow." The governments of Serbia and Croatia must resolve outstanding issues in direct talks, he pointed out, and for this they "do not need a third party, from outside, speaking with full respect for the friends from Europe". Speaking about unresolved problems, the Croatian prime minister said that he had discussed the issue of the two countries' lawsuits filed against each other with the ICJ during his visit to Belgrade, but said he continues to maintain the stand that this is "a difficult question which should not be provided with any arbitrary answers". Regarding the problem of the return of refugees, Sander said this issue has been resolved in the political sense, even though there are still problems in the concrete realization. Asked whether something could be done to restore confidence among the Serbs who wish to return to their homes in Croatia, Sanader said restoring confidence was taking a longer time than the political will to resolve such issues, and pointed out that it can be obstructed but cannot be imposed. The Croatian prime minister reiterated that his country will support the European path of Serbia. "Once we are members of NATO and the European Union, we will not use our position of member to blackmail neighbors," Sanader concluded in his interview to Tanjug. Sander is interviewed by Tanjug (Tanjug)

"Serbs and Croats, like French and Germans"

Bu, Sanader, who was on a visit to Belgrade ealrier this week, also added that he remained firm in his stand that outstanding issues, such as the genocide lawsuits filed by the two countries against each other before the International Court of Justice in The Hague, require time and that they should be resolved step by step.

"There should be talks always, in every situation. We have had a difficult past, but we wish to build a different future, and that is what is characteristic for this generation of politicians," Sanader said.

Elaborating on this statement, the Croatian premier gave the example of the French and the Germans, "until yesterday the biggest enemies in European history, who waged wars for centuries, and yet today present the foundations of the European Union, and their cooperation is the backbone of European integrations".

Sanader expressed confidence that "Croatia and Serbia can and must be precisely that in southeastern Europe tomorrow."

The governments of Serbia and Croatia must resolve outstanding issues in direct talks, he pointed out, and for this they "do not need a third party, from outside, speaking with full respect for the friends from Europe".

Speaking about unresolved problems, the Croatian prime minister said that he had discussed the issue of the two countries' lawsuits filed against each other with the ICJ during his visit to Belgrade, but said he continues to maintain the stand that this is "a difficult question which should not be provided with any arbitrary answers".

Regarding the problem of the return of refugees, Sander said this issue has been resolved in the political sense, even though there are still problems in the concrete realization.

Asked whether something could be done to restore confidence among the Serbs who wish to return to their homes in Croatia, Sanader said restoring confidence was taking a longer time than the political will to resolve such issues, and pointed out that it can be obstructed but cannot be imposed.

The Croatian prime minister reiterated that his country will support the European path of Serbia.

"Once we are members of NATO and the European Union, we will not use our position of member to blackmail neighbors," Sanader concluded in his interview to Tanjug.