Belgrade media focused on Milanovic's messages that he will conduct his duties "with dedication, transparently and consistently," and that "every person in Croatia must be given a chance to find their way and their place, to live in dignity from decent work."
The media underscored that Milanovic's foreign policy would focus "on points that security and prosperity can be built on," and that he asked in advance "for understanding for any future mistakes."
"They are not intentional, they will not be intentional nor were they ever intentional... it is not a mistake if we differ in opinions and stances," the Radio-Television Serbia public broadcaster cited Milanovic as saying.
The Ekspress web portal noted that in his speech Milanovic "called for accepting differences," and underscored that he did not "intend to be a corrective but a constructive factor."
Belgrade media underlined that Milanovic partly departed from protocol, noting two details - that the national anthem was sung by prominent Croatian pop and jazz singer Josipa Lisac and that the new president "coincidentally or not" cited a verse by former Serbian rock group Ekatarina Velika (EKV).
"This is a home to us all, to us who live here and to the generations to come, as well as to those who are yet to return," Milanovic said in conclusion of his speech.
The media in Serbia also noticed that Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic did not wish to comment on the inauguration ceremony.