Relations in region "best in recent history"

SARAJEVO Prime Minister Ivica Dacic stated that the relations in the region are "at their best in recent history, although problems are still present." He underscored that the relations between Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, and Montenegro are crucial for the future of the region. Relations in region "best in recent history" Regional cooperation is important especially because of the joint interests embodied in European integration, Dacic said in an interview for the Bosnian Television BHT1. Dacic said that the ties with Bosnia-Herzegovina have normalized to a considerable extent and announced that the joint session of the Serbian government and the Bosnian Council of Ministers would be held in late November. Reflecting on the issue of Kosovo and Metohija, Dacic said that the relations with Pristina need to be normalized as much as possible in matters relevant to the life of people in the province. The Serbian prime minister said that the normalization of relations between Serbia and Croatia is developing at a rather slow pace and that the process should be accelerated. He called for the withdrawal of mutual genocide suits the Serbian and Croatian government filed to the International Court of Justice (ICJ), noting that this would be a historic step toward reconciliation. This needs to be done as soon as possible as the period of court proceedings is nearing and negative mood could spread once more, he said. Mutual suits and hearings will not bring any good, Dacic said. Although they have turned EU members, Croatia and Slovenia cannot function without the rest of the region, particularly not without Bosnia-Herzegovina and Serbia as the two countries constitute the main market for Croatian and Slovenian products, Dacic said. This is why we need to build good mutual relations, Dacic said and added that he is willing to do his best to accelerate this process as much as possible. He said that he would contact Croatian Prime Minister Zoran Milanovic in the next few days. The construction of better bilateral relations should be based on interests of the two countries, he said. "There are a lot of shared interests and it is in our interest to cooperate, which is why we need to tumble the 'Berlin walls' between the two countries at a faster pace," Dacic said and added that if the two countries decide to wait for someone else to tumble the fences, these will never be destroyed because it is not in others' interest for the region to be united. Tanjug BHT1

Relations in region "best in recent history"

Regional cooperation is important especially because of the joint interests embodied in European integration, Dačić said in an interview for the Bosnian Television BHT1.

Dačić said that the ties with Bosnia-Herzegovina have normalized to a considerable extent and announced that the joint session of the Serbian government and the Bosnian Council of Ministers would be held in late November.

Reflecting on the issue of Kosovo and Metohija, Dačić said that the relations with Priština need to be normalized as much as possible in matters relevant to the life of people in the province.

The Serbian prime minister said that the normalization of relations between Serbia and Croatia is developing at a rather slow pace and that the process should be accelerated.

He called for the withdrawal of mutual genocide suits the Serbian and Croatian government filed to the International Court of Justice (ICJ), noting that this would be a historic step toward reconciliation.

This needs to be done as soon as possible as the period of court proceedings is nearing and negative mood could spread once more, he said.

Mutual suits and hearings will not bring any good, Dačić said.

Although they have turned EU members, Croatia and Slovenia cannot function without the rest of the region, particularly not without Bosnia-Herzegovina and Serbia as the two countries constitute the main market for Croatian and Slovenian products, Dačić said.

This is why we need to build good mutual relations, Dačić said and added that he is willing to do his best to accelerate this process as much as possible. He said that he would contact Croatian Prime Minister Zoran Milanović in the next few days.

The construction of better bilateral relations should be based on interests of the two countries, he said.

"There are a lot of shared interests and it is in our interest to cooperate, which is why we need to tumble the 'Berlin walls' between the two countries at a faster pace," Dačić said and added that if the two countries decide to wait for someone else to tumble the fences, these will never be destroyed because it is not in others' interest for the region to be united.