Tadić: Serbia supports Bosnia’s integrity

Serbian President Boris Tadic stated in Sarajevo on Wednesday that Serbia wanted the closest possible relations with Bosnia-Herzegovina. He added that the country was ready to resolve all the remaining open issues between the two countries. Tadic: Serbia supports Bosnia’s integrity Tadic stressed that Serbia's support to Bosnia-Herzegovina's integrity was not just verbal, as it was manifested in Serbia's political practices as well. Reiterating that Bosnia-Herzegovia and Serbia have geographical, cultural, economic and infrastructural ties, he pointed out that the past several years represent perhaps the most difficult moments in the two countries' history, adding that unresolved issues still existed. "However, we wish to close these issues to the benefit of both countries," the Serbian president told a joint press conference after the meeting with Bosnia-Herzegovina Presidency members Bakir Izetbegovic, Zeljko Komsic and Nebojsa Radmanovic. He reiterated that Serbia respects territorial integrity and sovereignty of all UN member states, particularly the neighboring countries. Tadic said that Serbia would accept all agreements between the three constitutive peoples and two entities in Bosnia-Herzegovina. He once again stressed that Serbia was one of the signatories and guarantors of the Dayton Peace Accords, but did not see it as the right to interfere in another country's internal affairs. Tadic also mentioned the EU integration process of the entire region, pointing out that this was Serbia's crucial strategic goal and expressed hope that other countries would also advance towards the EU. The Serbian president pointed to the significance of condemning all the perpetrators of war crimes. "Serbia has and will continue to help bring all those suspected of war crimes to justice," he underlined, adding it was important to ensure fair trials and sentences for those people. "It is not significant simply because of reconciliation in our region, but also in order to establish the rule of law," the Serbian president remarked and reiterated Serbia's commitment to completing its obligations towards the Hague Tribunal. He also called for the truth about those missing since the wars in the former Yugoslavia. Head of Bosnia-Herzegovina’s three-man presidency Radmanovic said that Tadic was Bosnia-Herzegovina’s friend. “Serbia and Bosnia-Herzegovina are important for the stability of the Western Balkans and the EU,” he added. “It is important that all the Balkan countries move towards EU membership,” he stressed, adding that big steps were needed as soon as possible to reach that end. "Let this be a call to the EU to stimulate the rest of the Balkan countries to meet the necessary requirements and move closer to the EU," Radmanovic concluded. The Serbian president's arrival on Wednesday morning was marked with a welcoming ceremony, which included the playing of the two countries’ national anthems and a review of the honor guard. He landed at Sarajevo's airport around 10:00 CET and was welcomed by Bosnia-Herzegovina Foreign Minister Sven Alkalaj. Later in the day, Tadic will also meet Bosnia-Herzegovina Council of Ministers Chairman Nikola Spiric, MPs and Regional Cooperation Council Secretary General Hido Biscevic. In the afternoon, the Serbian president will walk through the old part of Sarajevo. Political leaders in Federation of Bosnia-Herzegovina assessed earlier that the first official visit to Sarajevo is a positive and welcome act, while Republic of Srpska (RS) politicians are reserved. The RS public has had a negative attitude toward the Serbian president since Ratko Mladic was arrested. The main topics of the talks in Sarajevo, Tadic’s home town, will be European integration, strengthening of trust and regional cooperation. The officials will also undoubtedly discuss arrests of Ejup Ganic, Jovan Divjak and Bozidar Vucurevic. The Serbian president will be presented with order of the European Movement in Bosnia-Herzegovina. Bosnian media point out that this is his first official visit to Bosnia-Herzegovina and political leaders in Sarajevo consider it to be a very positive improvement in Serbia’s relations with their country. Izetbegovic has welcomed Tadic’s arrival because, as he said, it is not good that Serbia only actively cooperates with one entity. “Boris Tadic should come to Sarajevo and he is welcome. Various topics will be opened. We have the biggest trade with Serbia, more than million Serbs live in Bosnia-Herzegovina, and more than 300,000 Bosniaks live in Serbia. We have every reason to improve relations but we cannot improve them if we do not talk,” he stressed ahead of the Serbian president's visit. On the other hand, the RS is reserved and did not comment on Tadic's visit. Mladic’s arrest has seriously violated RS public's confidence in Serbia and the Serbian president is considered to be the most responsible for the act, which the RS sees as a betrayal. Certain circles in both Serbia and the RS believe that Tadic is apologizing far too often for all that happened during the war in former Yugoslavia. Newly-appointed Serbian Ambassador in Sarajevo Ninoslav Stojadinovic has stated that the Serbian president is contributing to a reconciliation process with constant dialogue with countries of the former Yugoslavia. “He is apologizing in an appropriate way, but at the same time he is talking to neighboring countries’ officials. The steps made by Tadic and some other officials in the region are big,” the Serbian ambassador pointed out. Boris Tadic in Sarajevo (Tanjug)

Tadić: Serbia supports Bosnia’s integrity

Tadić stressed that Serbia's support to Bosnia-Herzegovina's integrity was not just verbal, as it was manifested in Serbia's political practices as well.

Reiterating that Bosnia-Herzegovia and Serbia have geographical, cultural, economic and infrastructural ties, he pointed out that the past several years represent perhaps the most difficult moments in the two countries' history, adding that unresolved issues still existed.

"However, we wish to close these issues to the benefit of both countries," the Serbian president told a joint press conference after the meeting with Bosnia-Herzegovina Presidency members Bakir Izetbegović, Željko Komšić and Nebojša Radmanović.

He reiterated that Serbia respects territorial integrity and sovereignty of all UN member states, particularly the neighboring countries.

Tadić said that Serbia would accept all agreements between the three constitutive peoples and two entities in Bosnia-Herzegovina.

He once again stressed that Serbia was one of the signatories and guarantors of the Dayton Peace Accords, but did not see it as the right to interfere in another country's internal affairs.

Tadić also mentioned the EU integration process of the entire region, pointing out that this was Serbia's crucial strategic goal and expressed hope that other countries would also advance towards the EU.

The Serbian president pointed to the significance of condemning all the perpetrators of war crimes.

"Serbia has and will continue to help bring all those suspected of war crimes to justice," he underlined, adding it was important to ensure fair trials and sentences for those people.

"It is not significant simply because of reconciliation in our region, but also in order to establish the rule of law," the Serbian president remarked and reiterated Serbia's commitment to completing its obligations towards the Hague Tribunal.

He also called for the truth about those missing since the wars in the former Yugoslavia.

Head of Bosnia-Herzegovina’s three-man presidency Radmanović said that Tadić was Bosnia-Herzegovina’s friend.

“Serbia and Bosnia-Herzegovina are important for the stability of the Western Balkans and the EU,” he added.

“It is important that all the Balkan countries move towards EU membership,” he stressed, adding that big steps were needed as soon as possible to reach that end.

"Let this be a call to the EU to stimulate the rest of the Balkan countries to meet the necessary requirements and move closer to the EU," Radmanović concluded.

The Serbian president's arrival on Wednesday morning was marked with a welcoming ceremony, which included the playing of the two countries’ national anthems and a review of the honor guard.

He landed at Sarajevo's airport around 10:00 CET and was welcomed by Bosnia-Herzegovina Foreign Minister Sven Alkalaj.

Later in the day, Tadić will also meet Bosnia-Herzegovina Council of Ministers Chairman Nikola Špirić, MPs and Regional Cooperation Council Secretary General Hido Biščević.

In the afternoon, the Serbian president will walk through the old part of Sarajevo.

Political leaders in Federation of Bosnia-Herzegovina assessed earlier that the first official visit to Sarajevo is a positive and welcome act, while Republic of Srpska (RS) politicians are reserved. The RS public has had a negative attitude toward the Serbian president since Ratko Mladić was arrested.

The main topics of the talks in Sarajevo, Tadić’s home town, will be European integration, strengthening of trust and regional cooperation. The officials will also undoubtedly discuss arrests of Ejup Ganić, Jovan Divjak and Božidar Vučurević.

The Serbian president will be presented with order of the European Movement in Bosnia-Herzegovina.

Bosnian media point out that this is his first official visit to Bosnia-Herzegovina and political leaders in Sarajevo consider it to be a very positive improvement in Serbia’s relations with their country.

Izetbegović has welcomed Tadić’s arrival because, as he said, it is not good that Serbia only actively cooperates with one entity.

“Boris Tadić should come to Sarajevo and he is welcome. Various topics will be opened. We have the biggest trade with Serbia, more than million Serbs live in Bosnia-Herzegovina, and more than 300,000 Bosniaks live in Serbia. We have every reason to improve relations but we cannot improve them if we do not talk,” he stressed ahead of the Serbian president's visit.

On the other hand, the RS is reserved and did not comment on Tadić's visit. Mladić’s arrest has seriously violated RS public's confidence in Serbia and the Serbian president is considered to be the most responsible for the act, which the RS sees as a betrayal.

Certain circles in both Serbia and the RS believe that Tadić is apologizing far too often for all that happened during the war in former Yugoslavia.

Newly-appointed Serbian Ambassador in Sarajevo Ninoslav Stojadinović has stated that the Serbian president is contributing to a reconciliation process with constant dialogue with countries of the former Yugoslavia.

“He is apologizing in an appropriate way, but at the same time he is talking to neighboring countries’ officials. The steps made by Tadić and some other officials in the region are big,” the Serbian ambassador pointed out.