ZAGREB, Jan 16 (Hina) - Croatian President Stipe Mesic and Montenegrin counterpart Milo Djukanovic said after Tuesday's talks in Zagreb there was no more danger of new wars on the territory of the former Yugoslav federation.
ZAGREB, Jan 16 (Hina) - Croatian President Stipe Mesic and
Montenegrin counterpart Milo Djukanovic said after Tuesday's talks
in Zagreb there was no more danger of new wars on the territory of
the former Yugoslav federation.#L#
"It is my pleasure to say that there is no more fear of some events
which would rock parts of ex-Yugoslavia's region... I suppose all
open issues will be settled politically and democratically," said
Mesic.
"When I say that I also think of Serbia-Montenegro relations... I
think there is no great danger that things will get out of control
and I suppose everybody has learned a lesson from what happened," he
added.
Djukanovic said he briefed the Croatian chief of state on the
Montenegrin government's latest political initiatives aimed at
resolving future Montenegro-Serbia relations and the future
organisation of the Yugoslav federation.
"The basic reason for initiating that issue is our wish to achieve
Montenegro's strategic goals as soon as possible... and they are
further democratisation, market reforms, and integration into
European and Atlantic structures," said Djukanovic.
"First of all, we are committed to have dialogue in communication
with Serbia in order to contribute to the advancement of regional
stability... We believe that wars are definitely behind Southeast
Europe," he added.
Croatia's Mesic said that cooperation between the two countries'
economies had intensified a great deal since his last meeting with
Djukanovic.
"Croatian businessmen are now present in Montenegro, and vice-
versa. Dubrovnik had a fantastic tourist season partly due to
warmer relations with Montenegro... especially after both sides
stressed that Prevlaka is not a territorial issue," said Mesic.
Prevlaka is Croatia's southern-most tip which borders with
Montenegro.
He voiced satisfaction with the fact that Montenegro strongly
endorsed the construction of a highway along the Adriatic-Ionian
coastline. It is a highway connecting two European Union and NATO
members, Greece and Italy, from which all countries in the region
will benefit, Mesic added.
"We have assurances that the Stability Pact (four South Eastern
Europe) will finance a feasibility study, and then we'll have to
find investors to finance the construction," he said.
Over his two-day stay in Croatia, Djukanovic also met with Prime
Minister Ivica Racan and parliamentary speaker Zlatko Tomcic.
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