We are aware of the importance of dialogue and mutual respect, which need to be embedded into every pore of society, Sanader said in Thessaloniki on Thursday at the eighth dialogue between the Orthodox Church and European People's Parties (Christian Democrats).
This is the second time the event is taking place in the Greek city where in June, Sanader said, Europe decided to continue building the European house and called on its southeast to assume its commitments.
Sanader said his cabinet's objective was to integrate all Croatian citizens into Croatian society while fully preserving their identities. He underlined the importance of religious dialogue in overcoming disputes.
We have to work on dignity and development on the spiritual and the material front... overcome historical disputes through dialogue and cooperation and thus, amongst other things, contribute to an undivided Europe, said the Croatian PM.
Speaking of relations with neighbours, Sanader said Croatia had turned over a new leaf and entered a period of reconciliation and European future. He recalled he was the first Croatian PM who, for the purpose of reconciliation, visited the Serb Orthodox Church in Zagreb on January 6 and wished all Orthodox faithful a merry Christmas.
Sanader said one of the advantages of Croatia's policy was that it had a coalition government which included representatives of ethnic minorities.
He announced he would visit Belgrade, and invited Serbian PM Vojislav Kostunica to visit Zagreb.
Sanader said Croatia and Serbia and Montenegro were working on an agreement on the protection of ethnic minorities. He added bilateral relations would become more dynamic and more intense in the coming period.
Sanader also said that Croatia enjoyed the support of its neighbours for its EU integration process, adding that the sooner Croatia joined the Union the sooner Croatia's neighbours would draw closer to the Union.
The Croatian delegation at the Thessaloniki meeting included Foreign Minister Miomir Zuzul, Culture Minister Bozo Biskupic, and the state secretary at the Foreign Ministry, Hido Biscevic.
Serbian PM Kostunica did not mention Croatia in his speech, focusing instead on Kosovo, which he said was the heart of Europe. He stressed that Kosovo was the most drastic example of intolerance towards non-Albanians.
Kostunica said Serbia was a completely open society because the make-up of religious communities made it a country integrated into the European and international communities.
Serbia sees its chance in a pluralist and multicultural society in which the Church will have a spiritual mission... We are building the European home on the basis of diverse beliefs, said Kostunica.
He expressed regret that Macedonian authorities detained two representatives of the Serb Orthodox Church who were going to Thessaloniki, saying that intolerance was not compatible with religious teaching.
Doris Pack, leader of the Delegation for Relations with Southeast Europe in the European Parliament, called on former Yugoslavia's republics to assume their obligations and fully accept cooperation with the U.N. war crimes tribunal in The Hague.
All governments must be consistent in that because it is the only way to oppose radicals, said Pack.
She also commented on Metropolitan Emmanuel of France's statement that the countries in Southeast Europe seemed to work against each other. She said Croatia's EU membership candidacy was no obstacle to other countries.
Erhard Busek, special coordinator of the Stability Pact for Southeast Europe, said this region was the only part of the continent where the past century witnessed four wars. He added Croatia and Serbia and Montenegro had done a lot but that the progress must be felt on the ground much more.
We will be effective only if we transform our beliefs, including Christian ones, into practice, said Busek.
Jamie Mayor Oreja, vice president of the Association of the European People's Party and European Democrats, commended Croatia in his opening speech, saying the signs coming from Croatia were very significant.
Serbian PM Kostunica departed for Thessaloniki with a 90-minute delay. He refused to leave Belgrade until Macedonian border authorities let Serb Orthodox Church Episcope Irinej, also travelling to Thessaloniki, through.
Upon being informed of this, Kostunica told the organisers of the Thessaloniki event he would not depart Belgrade until the episcope crossed the Serbian-Montenegrin border. This prompted an intervention on the part of the organisers from Athens and Brussels, after which the episcope was allowed to enter Macedonia.
The Serb and Macedonian Orthodox Churches are in conflict because the former does not recognise that the latter is autocephalous.