BELGRADE, Sept 9 (Hina) - Croatian President Stjepan Mesic's arrival to Serbia and Montenegro (SCG) for his first official visit on Wednesday is an important moment in the normalisation of Croatia-SCG relations, SCG President Svetozar
Marovic told Hina on Tuesday.
BELGRADE, Sept 9 (Hina) - Croatian President Stjepan Mesic's
arrival to Serbia and Montenegro (SCG) for his first official visit
on Wednesday is an important moment in the normalisation of
Croatia-SCG relations, SCG President Svetozar Marovic told Hina on
Tuesday. #L#
He said the normalisation of relations was constantly improving,
and voiced confidence Mesic's visit would show both sides' genuine
attempts to advance relations at all levels.
Marovic said "the essence is that this is the first official visit
after... times burdened by the disintegration of the ex-Yugoslavia
and the creation of new states".
"In the name of the future, one should forgive, not forgetting, the
time of evil that is behind us, and open issues should to be resolved
in the name of future generations," Marovic said, adding that
regional cooperation would affect the security and future of the
entire region.
"Clearly, tomorrow's visit won't resolve all issues but will
elevate open issues to a higher level, with more trust and
willingness to resolve them, and demonstrate the joint commitment
to cooperation with The Hague (war crimes tribunal) and to all
issues faced by countries in transition, such as cooperation in
combating organised crime, trafficking in humans, as well as
refugee returns, which will show that we are increasingly more
citizens of Europe and that we have caught up with European culture
and civilisation."
"The future should show that we can function with each other as
friends and as good neighbours, which will help each other on the
road to European integration," Marovic said.
He added Mesic's visit would show that when there was enthusiasm,
good will, and agreement, open issues could be resolved, as
Montenegro and Croatia did regarding the border and the Prevlaka
peninsula.
Asked to comment on Montenegrin Prime Minister Milo Djukanovic's
refusal to testify against former Yugoslav President Slobodan
Milosevic before the Hague tribunal, Marovic said he respected
Djukanovic's stance because he had been one of the main targets at a
very difficult time of conflict with Milosevic's authoritarian
regime.
"Milosevic threatened Montenegro and we were all faced with the
problem of how to survive his regime, even physically. Djukanovic
said in a politically moral way that he thought he had fulfilled all
of his political commitments with regard to the defeat of
Milosevic's policy".
Marovic recalled that Montenegro, like Serbia, was obliged to fully
cooperate with the Hague tribunal.
"At this stage, the Hague prosecution understands Djukanovic's
position, because what is important is that with this position he
definitely didn't want to side with those who don't want the
complete truth about Milosevic's responsibility established,
regardless of what it is".
Speaking of SCG's future, Marovic said the next three years should
be used to expedite the country's drawing closer to European
integration.
"The formation of the state union is the fastest route to Europe,
because one can't enter Europe alone, only together with Europe.
The union is a good model which affirms the increasingly stronger
will of its citizens for both the traditional and the current state
independence. In the state union Serbia is a state and Montenegro is
a state. On the other hand, this independence and right to self-
determination should be used in the interest of the future, and not
only to satisfy our past," Marovic said, adding that what was
important was that citizens, in three years' time and in a more
stable climate, decided what was best for them.
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