ZAGREB, Nov 11 (Hina) - Croatia's President Stjepan Mesic on Saturday received representatives of the Serb community in the country. After the talks Mesic told reporters that he was satisfied with the meeting "but was not satisfied
with the fact that certain problems are not being totally settled and thus they encumber the Croatian public and people."
ZAGREB, Nov 11 (Hina) - Croatia's President Stjepan Mesic on
Saturday received representatives of the Serb community in the
country.
After the talks Mesic told reporters that he was satisfied with the
meeting "but was not satisfied with the fact that certain problems
are not being totally settled and thus they encumber the Croatian
public and people." #L#
"Croatia has opted for a democratic arrangement of the society in
which all people must be equal before law, and there cannot be any
selective approach," the President added.
He underlined that institutions of the system had to function in
line with law and Croatia "must solve problems of citizens."
"There are refugees from Bosnia-Herzegovina staying in other
persons' houses, and we are interested in prospect for Bosnia to
start functioning as a law-based country, so that refugees can
return to their homes as well as that the owners of houses in Croatia
can come back to them. All parties (concerned) should try to solve
the issue," Mesic expounded.
He told reporters that his talks with Croatian Serb representatives
had also tackled other important topics such as the relations
between Croatia and Yugoslavia.
According to Mesic, it is encouraging that Slobodan Milosevic has
departed from power, but it is necessary that his aggressive and
imperial policy may also be discontinued.
"In relation to the border and the peninsula of Prevlaka, it is not a
territorial issue but a security one which we have to settle,"
Croatian president added.
According to him,, a message is being relayed that Serbs outside
Serbia should represent a bridge of cooperation.
"The main message will ensue after the election in Serbia, set for
December, and it will reflect which path Serbia has taken," Mesic
believed.
On behalf of the Serb National Council (SNV) and its members, the
SNV leader Milorad Pupovac told reporters that their meeting with
President Mesic had served as "an opportunity to be informed of the
implementation of the Erdut Agreement and a return policy and new
relations which are being forged between the Republic of Croatia
and the federal Republic of Yugoslavia."
"The Serb National Council expresses support to the President's and
Government's stand that all who committed war crimes should answer
for them. We also have said the continuation of arrests of innocent
people would dent the credibility of the Croatian judiciary, policy
and state institutions," Pupovac said.
He asserted that "former judicial authorities, led by certain
policy, instrumentalised the judiciary and most frequently
arrested those who were not held responsible."
"The Serb community together with institution of authority, is
willing to do its best to put an end to such a policy and would like to
see that the Croatian judiciary punishes the liable persons, while
honest people should be free in the Croatian state," SNV leader
added.
The SNV maintains that it is necessary to create more efficient
mechanisms for the resolution of return issue and problems in the
areas of the special state concern.
He thanked president Mesic for the understanding he showed about
those issues and for his efforts to help solve them.
Pupovac described the relations between Zagreb and Belgrade as
something of great importance for Croatian Serbs. It is important
that Yugoslavia stabilises its institutions so that "minorities in
both country could be bridges of cooperation."
At the meeting Mesic received the Independent Democratic Serb Party
(SDSS)President, Vojislav Stanimirovic, the head of Joint Council
of (Serb-populated) Municipalities, Milos Vojnovic, the Serb
Democratic Forum head, Veljko Dzakula and others, besides
Pupovac.
(hina) ms