Emphasising the fact that the war with Serbia had been over 10 years ago, Sanader told the Croatian Television (HTV) on Tuesday evening that the two countries should be focused on the settlement of outstanding issues. In this context he mentioned the problem of missing Croatian citizens, the succession to the former Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and the return of artefacts and valuable things which were stolen from Croatia during the war.
Sanader also announced the arrival of his Serbian counterpart, Vojislav Kostunica, to Zagreb in the autumn.
The Croatian PM declined to comment on possible dates for the start of Croatia's membership talks with the European Union, explaining that it was on the EU to decide.
He, however, stressed, that Croatia absolutely deserved the opening of entry talks, admitting that the "story about the EU and The Hague" has frustrated Croatian citizens and himself, too.
He refuted claims of some citizens that Croatia was unquestioningly meeting all requirements.
"If we want to join Europe we must meet some conditions," Sanader said in that context.
Commenting on the current British presidency of the EU, the Croatian PM said that Britain had a principled position on the necessity for meeting requirements as well as a principled position on the necessity for the further enlargement of the European bloc.
He reiterated that Croatia had to solve the case of the fugitive General Ante Gotovina, who is wanted by the Hague-based UN war crimes tribunal, and voiced satisfaction with the implementation of his cabinet's action plan aimed at solving that case.