Serbian and Croatian presidents announce "constant dialogue"

BELGRADE Relations between Serbia and Croatia gained a new dimension on Wednesday, "a dimension of constant dialogue and work on solving standing issues." This is what Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic and Croatian President Ivo Josipovic said on Wednesday, after a meeting in Belgrade that focused mostly on the problems between the two countries. Serbian and Croatian presidents announce "constant dialogue" Nikolic stated he and his Croatian colleague supported the governments fully in addressing open issues and improving bilateral cooperation, stressing that Serbia cared only about thawing the relations with Croatia, mostly because of the Serb minority there. The greatest problems in the two countries' relations are the inability to exercise the right to use the Serbian language and script, frequent cases of security threats and view of the Serbs as an occupation force and Chetniks in Croatian textbooks, Nikolic said. "There is also a prominent tendency towards ethnically motivated conflicts and hate speech targeting the Serbs, some districts do not have Serb national minority schools, but only classes in Serbian, there is no department for programme in Serbian and there are also problems with returning the property of the Serbian Orthodox Church," Nikolic listed. "We want an open and constructive dialogue... I am convinced that we have made progress in improving the relations between Serbia and Croatia," Nikolic noted, adding it was important that Croatia supported Serbia's EU integration and efforts to improve regional cooperation. A time frame is needed for solutions to open issues and the joint committees and working groups working on those issues should continue their work at an accelerated pace, he stated. Great progress has been achieved in many segments, but the missing persons issue remains the most important, Josipovic remarked. "Croatia is looking for 1689 people, 953 who disappeared in 1991 and 1992, mostly Croats, and 736 who disappeared in 1995, mostly Serbs," Josipovic said, adding that information on the missing people could be found from Serbian sources as well. "It is the paramount issue, both moral and legal," he noted, adding that a solution was required in order to bring the relations between the two countries completely back to normal. The two governments' progress in solving the border issue has stopped, he said, pointing out that Croatia's experience with Slovenia, when international law was used to solve the dispute, should be put to use. Croatia is also not happy with the way the problem of succession is being addressed, Josipovic stated. "The Croatian minority in Serbia has similar problems to the ones Nikolic mentioned in reference to the Serbian minority in Croatia, and the issue of refugees is definitely something shared by both sides," said the Croatian president. Josipovic, who met with Nikolic for the first time on Wednesday, spoke positively of the cooperation in the judiciary, war crimes cases and the battle against organized and international crime. Life is ahead of politics, and the relations between businessmen, scientists and athletes from the two countries are at a higher level, he noted. "They are sending a message that our countries can do more and better. I am certain that we too, as presidents, but also the governments of our two countries, will understand that message and use its power to improve relations," he concluded. (Tanjug) Genocide suits Croatian President Ivo Josipovic said on Wednesday that the Croatian government had yet to deliver a final decision on whether it would drop the genocide lawsuit against Serbia before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague, while Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic said that a dropping of the lawsuits would establish complete peace between the two states. "As far as the Croatian side is concerned, some things are expected before the final decision," Josipovic said, replying to reporters' questions at a joint press conference after meeting with Nikolic. "If the lawsuit remains, we must say that we had more difficult situations between our states and peoples and we must live with that," Josipovic said, admitting that the genocide charges could encumber relations between the two countries. He noted that many historical facts would then be presented before the court, which "would not be good to hear". The Croatian president also noted that possible court proceedings could show the two sides' approaches to victims of the war, adding: "We should give some more time to the governments to try and find a compromise regarding the issue." Nikolic said at the press conference that Croatia gave up on withdrawing the genocide charges, although Serbia demonstrated readiness to drop its countersuit, and voiced hope that a mutually acceptable solution for the problem that burdens relations between the countries would be found in the near future. President Nikolic is of the opinion that the lawsuits should be dropped, adding that he looks to the future and it is important that Serbia and Croatia establish peace for all times, if possible. "Both President Josipovic and I, governments and citizens, all want to live peacefully and better," Nikolic said, adding that good friends resolve their disputes without courts. The dropping of lawsuits would establish complete peace between the two states. Otherwise, if the lawsuits go to the court, no one will be satisfied, regardless of the verdict, he said. "Serbia wants peace and friendship with all states in the world, especially with immediate neighbors," Nikolic said and added that the iron doors of the past should be closed, and the two states should focus on good things such as a joint entry to third markets. Tanjug

Serbian and Croatian presidents announce "constant dialogue"

Nikolić stated he and his Croatian colleague supported the governments fully in addressing open issues and improving bilateral cooperation, stressing that Serbia cared only about thawing the relations with Croatia, mostly because of the Serb minority there.

The greatest problems in the two countries' relations are the inability to exercise the right to use the Serbian language and script, frequent cases of security threats and view of the Serbs as an occupation force and Chetniks in Croatian textbooks, Nikolić said.

"There is also a prominent tendency towards ethnically motivated conflicts and hate speech targeting the Serbs, some districts do not have Serb national minority schools, but only classes in Serbian, there is no department for programme in Serbian and there are also problems with returning the property of the Serbian Orthodox Church," Nikolić listed.

"We want an open and constructive dialogue... I am convinced that we have made progress in improving the relations between Serbia and Croatia," Nikolić noted, adding it was important that Croatia supported Serbia's EU integration and efforts to improve regional cooperation.

A time frame is needed for solutions to open issues and the joint committees and working groups working on those issues should continue their work at an accelerated pace, he stated.

Great progress has been achieved in many segments, but the missing persons issue remains the most important, Josipović remarked.

"Croatia is looking for 1689 people, 953 who disappeared in 1991 and 1992, mostly Croats, and 736 who disappeared in 1995, mostly Serbs," Josipović said, adding that information on the missing people could be found from Serbian sources as well.

"It is the paramount issue, both moral and legal," he noted, adding that a solution was required in order to bring the relations between the two countries completely back to normal.

The two governments' progress in solving the border issue has stopped, he said, pointing out that Croatia's experience with Slovenia, when international law was used to solve the dispute, should be put to use.

Croatia is also not happy with the way the problem of succession is being addressed, Josipović stated.

"The Croatian minority in Serbia has similar problems to the ones Nikolić mentioned in reference to the Serbian minority in Croatia, and the issue of refugees is definitely something shared by both sides," said the Croatian president.

Josipović, who met with Nikolić for the first time on Wednesday, spoke positively of the cooperation in the judiciary, war crimes cases and the battle against organized and international crime.

Life is ahead of politics, and the relations between businessmen, scientists and athletes from the two countries are at a higher level, he noted.

"They are sending a message that our countries can do more and better. I am certain that we too, as presidents, but also the governments of our two countries, will understand that message and use its power to improve relations," he concluded.

Genocide suits

Croatian President Ivo Josipović said on Wednesday that the Croatian government had yet to deliver a final decision on whether it would drop the genocide lawsuit against Serbia before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague, while Serbian President Tomislav Nikolić said that a dropping of the lawsuits would establish complete peace between the two states.

"As far as the Croatian side is concerned, some things are expected before the final decision," Josipović said, replying to reporters' questions at a joint press conference after meeting with Nikolić.

"If the lawsuit remains, we must say that we had more difficult situations between our states and peoples and we must live with that," Josipović said, admitting that the genocide charges could encumber relations between the two countries. He noted that many historical facts would then be presented before the court, which "would not be good to hear".

The Croatian president also noted that possible court proceedings could show the two sides' approaches to victims of the war, adding: "We should give some more time to the governments to try and find a compromise regarding the issue."

Nikolić said at the press conference that Croatia gave up on withdrawing the genocide charges, although Serbia demonstrated readiness to drop its countersuit, and voiced hope that a mutually acceptable solution for the problem that burdens relations between the countries would be found in the near future.

President Nikolić is of the opinion that the lawsuits should be dropped, adding that he looks to the future and it is important that Serbia and Croatia establish peace for all times, if possible.

"Both President Josipović and I, governments and citizens, all want to live peacefully and better," Nikolić said, adding that good friends resolve their disputes without courts.

The dropping of lawsuits would establish complete peace between the two states. Otherwise, if the lawsuits go to the court, no one will be satisfied, regardless of the verdict, he said.

"Serbia wants peace and friendship with all states in the world, especially with immediate neighbors," Nikolić said and added that the iron doors of the past should be closed, and the two states should focus on good things such as a joint entry to third markets.