"Regional cooperation has improved"

Regarding his first 100 days in office, Croatian President Ivo Josipovic said that his biggest success has been in improving relations in the region. He will be visiting three locations in Bosnia-Herzegovina on Sunday in which war crimes were committed against Croats, Bosniaks, and Serbs during the war. "Regional cooperation has improved" Josipovic said that this trip “will be a way to open good, positive dialogue,” and confirmed that Republic of Srpska Prime Minister Milorad Dodik would be accompanying him. Asked whether he has invited Serbian President Boris Tadic to visit the site of the Ovcara farm crimes, Josipovic said that the time would come to discuss that as well. “It is all part of a process. I think that time is a very important factor in politics. An atmosphere must be created on all sides,” he said. Josipovic said that he is ready for possible criticism of his second visit to Bosnia-Herzegovina, reminding that he was criticized during his first visit and for statements he made in Sarajevo. According to his office, he will not only be meeting with Dodik, but also Bosnia-Herzegovina International High Representative Valentin Inzko, SDA President Sulejman Tihic, and officials of Croat political parties in Bosnia. Officials of the Catholic and Orthodox Churches, as well as the Islamic Community in Bosnia, will accompany him on his visit to the three war crimes sites as well. Ivo Josipovic (Tanjug archive)

"Regional cooperation has improved"

Josipović said that this trip “will be a way to open good, positive dialogue,” and confirmed that Republic of Srpska Prime Minister Milorad Dodik would be accompanying him.

Asked whether he has invited Serbian President Boris Tadić to visit the site of the Ovčara farm crimes, Josipović said that the time would come to discuss that as well.

“It is all part of a process. I think that time is a very important factor in politics. An atmosphere must be created on all sides,” he said.

Josipović said that he is ready for possible criticism of his second visit to Bosnia-Herzegovina, reminding that he was criticized during his first visit and for statements he made in Sarajevo.

According to his office, he will not only be meeting with Dodik, but also Bosnia-Herzegovina International High Representative Valentin Inzko, SDA President Sulejman Tihić, and officials of Croat political parties in Bosnia.

Officials of the Catholic and Orthodox Churches, as well as the Islamic Community in Bosnia, will accompany him on his visit to the three war crimes sites as well.