Mrkic: Croatia Needs to Make first Move

BELGRADE - Foreign Minister Ivan Mrkic says Serbia will withdraw its countersuit against Croatia before the only after Croatia drops its genocide lawsuit. Foreign Minister Ivan Mrkic says Serbia will withdraw its countersuit against Croatia before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) only after Croatia drops its genocide lawsuit. Mrkic: Croatia Needs to Make first Move Serbia is open to an out-of-court settlement in the more than a decade long case before the ICJ in The Hague, but Croatia needs to make the first move, Mrkic said for the daily Vecernje Novosti on Thursday. "I was not us that filed a suit against Croatia, Zagreb did it first. In our opinion, without any grounds, for reasons dictated by their domestic political scene. This means we will drop our suit only after Croatia drops its own," said Mrkic. A series of recent meetings between Serbian and Croatian top officials reopened many unresolved issues between the two countries - from borders and return of property to military cooperation, and especially three topics which hold the key to the lawsuits: missing persons, return of cultural heritage, and prosecution of war crimes. Mrkic stresses that the case before the ICJ is not costing Serbia anything, as the only expenses are those for the regular employment of relevant bodies and experts. Talks between the two sides are expected to pick up steam in the coming months ahead of the main hearing. /Tanjug, file/ Vecernje novosti

Mrkic: Croatia Needs to Make first Move

Serbia is open to an out-of-court settlement in the more than a decade long case before the ICJ in The Hague, but Croatia needs to make the first move, Mrkic said for the daily Vecernje Novosti on Thursday.
"I was not us that filed a suit against Croatia, Zagreb did it first. In our opinion, without any grounds, for reasons dictated by their domestic political scene. This means we will drop our suit only after Croatia drops its own," said Mrkic.

A series of recent meetings between Serbian and Croatian top officials reopened many unresolved issues between the two countries - from borders and return of property to military cooperation, and especially three topics which hold the key to the lawsuits: missing persons, return of cultural heritage, and prosecution of war crimes.

Mrkic stresses that the case before the ICJ is not costing Serbia anything, as the only expenses are those for the regular employment of relevant bodies and experts.

Talks between the two sides are expected to pick up steam in the coming months ahead of the main hearing.