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The Government of the Republic of Serbia

In the service of citizens

Relations between Serbia and Croatia key to regional stability

Belgrade, 15 November 2004

Serbian Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica and Croatian Prime Minister Ivo Sanader have agreed that relations between Serbia and Croatia are of exceptional importance for stability and progress in the region and its progress towards European integration.

Ivo Sanader and Vojislav Kostunica

Author: Tanjug

Kostunica told a press conference following a meeting with Sanader in Belgrade today that improved relations between the two countries represent a framework for addressing many issues more efficiently, noting that these are issues related to the past, but are also those that concern the future. According to him, shared European aspirations are bringing Serbia and Croatia even closer to each other.

Kostunica stressed that economic cooperation was high on the agenda of today’s talks, which were also attended by the two countries’ economy ministers. He said economic cooperation opens a variety of opportunities, adding that the issue of infrastructure is predominant.

The talks also covered missing persons, the transfer of convicts from Croatian prisons to those of Serbia, restitution of property, and return of refugees, according to Kostunica.

Sanader said the two countries’ officials agreed to give priority to the issue of missing persons.

He said he told Kostunica that the restitution of property to Serbs who fled Croatia is not a political issue but rather a technical, organizational and financial one. He added that the deadline for restitution, the end of 2004, will be pushed back a little but that all the property will be returned to Serbs.

Sanader also said that Croatia is willing to share its experience in building ties with Europe while stressing that both countries share the same goal of getting closer to the European Union. He said that Croatia, although one or two steps closer to the EU, does not want to escape from the region.

Kostunica said that today’s talks will facilitate not only bilateral relations but also the internal political situation in both countries.

Speaking about the 2010 World Basketball Championship, Sanader said Croatia will accept the role of co-organiser but on condition that one semi-final game is played in Zagreb.

The Croatian prime minister welcomed a decision by a Serbia-Montenegrin Council of Ministers to withdraw the military from the borders and shift jurisdiction to the police. He said this decision will ease relations between the two countries in many respects, adding that the Croatian government will extend the suspension of visa requirements for citizens of Serbia-Montenegro for another six months or a year. According to Sanader, the Croatian side is willing to continue talks on full liberalisation of the visa regime for Serbia-Montenegrins up until the point when Croatia joins the EU.