Sanader, who visits Belgrade for the first time, said that the notion of the EU would not be complete until all countries in the region became EU members.
"To achieve that goal, permanent political stability must be established in this part of Europe, because it is the main precondition of progress towards the EU," Sanader said adding that Croatia expected to receive a positive decision on the start of accession talks until next March. The fact that Croatia has made progress in the process of European integration can only be an encouragement to Serbia and Montenegro, he added.
The agreement on the protection of minorities between Croatia and Serbia and Montenegro, which will be signed in Belgrade tomorrow, is "a historic act and a big step forward with regard to the values of the civilised world," Sanader said. "I expect Croats in Serbia and Montenegro to receive, in terms of legislation, confirmation that they are accepted and have all rights arising from the status of a national minority," he said.
The most painful problem in relations between the two countries is the problem of missing persons, Sanader said, adding that he had the full support of the authorities in Belgrade in the solution of that problem.
There are a few more outstanding issues, he said, citing the issue of succession, on which he said an agreement had been signed that should now be implemented, as well as the issue of property-rights relations.
"The border issue is not an outstanding issue," Sanader said recalling that in 1991 the Badinter commission had decided that the borders of former republics were the borders of the newly-established states and that relevant bodies should now be let establish borders in cases where this had not been done.
Croatia is interested in keeping in force the non-visa regime for the citizens of Serbia and Montenegro which will be extended for another six months or a year, which is the result, among other things, of a recent decision of the Serbian and Montenegrin authorities to withdraw the military from the border and replace it with police, Sanader said.
Repossession of property by Croatian Serbs is "a technical, that is, financial issue", Sanader said adding that this issue would be solved by the start of next year as agreed with Serb representatives in the Croatian parliament.
Sanader also stressed the need for cooperation with the UN war crimes tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, adding that the indictment against runaway Croatian general Ante Gotovina had to be proven before the tribunal.
"General Gotovina deserves much credit for Croatia's freedom, but there is an indictment that must be proven before the tribunal," the PM said, adding that Croatia would fully cooperate with the tribunal in that regard as well.