ZAGREB, December 12 (Hina) - Croatia and Yugoslavia must find ways to overcome legacies from the past and enable the establishing of future relations which would be useful to both countries, President Stjepan Mesic said in Zagreb
Wednesday, receiving credentials from the new Yugoslav Ambassador to Croatia, Milan Simurdic. Expressing satisfaction over the fact that Yugoslavia again had an Ambassador to Croatia, and that a process of appointing the new Croatian Ambassador in Belgrade was underway, Mesic said "relations between our countries were still burdened by numerous open issues and traumas caused by events over past ten years." He added "we do not need to, nor must, evade this." He stressed new relations must be established to the benefit of both countries. According to Mesic, Croatia will continue with the policy of enabling the return of all of its displaced citizens, but for a complete success of the po
ZAGREB, December 12 (Hina) - Croatia and Yugoslavia must find ways
to overcome legacies from the past and enable the establishing of
future relations which would be useful to both countries, President
Stjepan Mesic said in Zagreb Wednesday, receiving credentials from
the new Yugoslav Ambassador to Croatia, Milan Simurdic.
Expressing satisfaction over the fact that Yugoslavia again had an
Ambassador to Croatia, and that a process of appointing the new
Croatian Ambassador in Belgrade was underway, Mesic said
"relations between our countries were still burdened by numerous
open issues and traumas caused by events over past ten years." He
added "we do not need to, nor must, evade this." He stressed new
relations must be established to the benefit of both countries.
According to Mesic, Croatia will continue with the policy of
enabling the return of all of its displaced citizens, but for a
complete success of the policy it needs partners of the "Dayton
Triangle".
Croatia will continue a policy of good neighbourly relations and
partnership with Bosnia, "without the slightest indication of any
pretensions to parts of Bosnian territory. It expects similar
behaviour from others in region," Mesic said.
Croats residing in other countries will remain a bridge for
Croatia's cooperation with these countries, and not an excuse for
realising ambitions which would in any way impinge upon their
integrity or territorial entirety. "We want to hear such messages
from capitals of other countries in the region as regards their
minorities residing in other countries," Mesic said in the presence
of the new Yugoslav ambassador.
Those who have committed crimes must be punished regardless of
their nationality. Croatia will continue to cooperate with the
International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia,
expecting the same from other countries that emerged from the
former Yugoslavia, Mesic said.
He wished success to the work of Yugoslav Ambassador to Croatia and
added relations between Zagreb and Belgrade had special meaning in
the process of the permanent stabilisation of the situation in the
region.
Smurdic previously presented copies of credentials to Croatian
Foreign Minister Tonino Picula, and on that occasion said he would
like to be an authentic interpreter of the new Yugoslav policies. He
stressed he considered good neighbourly relations imperative for
both countries, and that Yugoslavia was encouraged by the ascending
trend of economic relations, it was said in the Foreign Ministry's
statement.
(hina) np sb