CROATIA/SERBIA: Croatia hailed the turning of a "new page" in relations with Serbia yesterday, when its premier visited Belgrade for the first time since war dismembered Yugoslavia a decade ago. Daniel McLaughlin reports from Budapest.
President Svetozar Marovic of Serbia-Montenegro and Croatian Prime Minister Ivo Sanader signed a declaration on boosting technical and scientific co-operation, encouraging the return of refugees and protecting ethnic minorities, and underlined their commitment to helping each other become members of the European Union and NATO.
"The political leadership of our countries will lead the process of revival of trust and overcoming the legacy of the past," a joint statement read.
"We wish to turn a new page in relations between our countries and peoples, because that is our historic responsibility to our future generations and the world.
"Serbia and Montenegro and Croatia . . . have confirmed their joint political goal to promote bilateral relations, strengthen regional stability and above all to aspire to European integration," Mr Marovic said.
After vowing to improve cultural and trade links, ease visa requirements, solve a border dispute and co-operate on fighting organised crime in the Balkans, Mr Sanader said Zagreb would do all it could to bring Serbia towards the EU, with which Croatia hopes to begin accession talks next year. "I am certain that the sooner Croatia joins the European Union, the sooner it gets closer to trans-Atlantic integration and NATO, then the sooner Serbia-Montenegro will do so as well."
Brussels has told Croatia that it must improve relations with Belgrade, as well as its record on minorities and the return of refugees, if its bid for EU membership is to succeed.
Mr Marovic said Belgrade should comply with demands from the UN tribunal at The Hague to arrest fugitive Serb war-crimes suspects, whom nationalist Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica says he is both unable and unwilling to capture. Mr Sanader is also due to meet Mr Kostunica during his visit.