SERBIA MADE SOME STEPS TOWARD DEMOCRACY BUT MUST QUIT NATIONALISM MESIC

ROME, May 23 (Hina) - Every change in neighbouring countries which promotes the development of democracy fills us with optimism, Croatia's President Stjepan Mesic was quoted by an Italian journal "Limes" as saying. "The first step towards democracy in Serbia was made with the victory of the opposition at the elections. The second step was the apprehension of (former president) Slobodan Milosevic," Mesic said in his interview to the second issue of Limes this year which tackled the topic "New Balkans". Mesic's interview was also published in Tuesday's issue of the Italian daily "Repubblica". "My predecessor (Tudjman) believed that he could expand Croatia's border lines if Milosevic expanded Serbia's border. Therefore, he struck a deal with Milosevic on the division of Bosnia-Herzegovina. But, in Croatia Franjo Tudjman's policy failed. We have come to power and have no intention of changing the frontiers. We wish Serbia do the same," Croatia's head of state Mesic said. He added that "Serbia would have to assume a clear policy which is contrary to the aggressive police (Belgrade) carried out in the past." "We in Croatia say that Croats abroad are our bridge of cooperation with peoples of other countries and we have no right to lay claim to other territories. We expect the same from Serbia," Mesic explained. He described the incumbent Yugoslav President Vojislav Kostunica as "a legalist and member of a circle of intellectuals nationalists." Serbia will be a really democratic country only if it abandons nationalism. We expect that from Kostunica, the Croatian president added. Asked whether the cooperation with the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) could disturb the balance within the Croatian coalition government given that investigations were being conducted against some officials of the Croatian state security, Mesic said the cooperation with the ICTY was defined by the country's Constitutional Law, adopted by the national parliament. All of us, including me, must respect the law. Actually, I have already been called to The Hague as a witness. To work with the Tribunal is hard as it covers persons to whom much credit goes for the victory of the war (for independence) and who are regarded as heroes. But there is no credit and courageous deeds which may justify war crimes. For good deeds they are decorated, while for crimes they must be punished, Mesic said. (hina) ms