"Let's turn to the future, let's draw lessons from the past. Montenegro sees in Croatia its friend and wants to close all outstanding issues by agreement," Montenegrin President Filip Vujanovic, on his first official visit to Croatia since Montenegro declared independence last spring, told the press.
Croatian President Stjepan Mesic said bilateral relations were developing well but "can and must be better". He added that outstanding issued were not and must not obstruct the development of relations.
"We are not running away from problems or... pushing them under the carpet. We are talking about everything and believe that talks, negotiations and agreements are the only way to resolve existing problems," said Mesic.
He underlined that Croatia did not have unsolvable problems with any of its neighbours and that those problems which seemed such were due to lack of political will or courage or vision.
Speaking of the border with Montenegro near the southern Adriatic tip of Prevlaka, Mesic said it was regulated by a temporary solution. "Of course, it is not final and prejudges nothing. But it works perfectly and at this moment there is absolutely no need to tighten it in any way."
Speaking of Euro-Atlantic integration, Mesic said Montenegro knew that Croatia's accession to the EU was in its interest as well. He added Croatia was ready to share its experience in accession negotiations in which the most important thing was to protect one's own state and national interests.
Vujanovic said that he and his host had recalled two of their initiatives that were accepted by state authorities.
In 2005 an initiative was launched that Montenegro pay for property seized by the former Yugoslav People's Army (JNA) in the southern Croatian sea resort of Dubrovnik and, according to Vujanovic, "show that it is ready to rehabilitate in this way... that part of the past and thus overcome the problem that existed on that ugly page of Montenegro's history... a history in which, guided and misled by the JNA, it took part on the Dubrovnik battlefield".
Vujanovic said the initiative had not been welcomed and that he spent four days in parliament to establish if the initiative clashed with the constitution.
He reiterated that Montenegro had publicly apologised and expressed genuine regret for the Dubrovnik battlefield as well as said that war crimes had been committed there and that those responsible must end up before the Hague war crimes tribunal.
In July 2006 an agreement was signed by the two countries' state prosecutor's offices on cooperation and the prosecution of perpetrators of war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide.
"Croatia and Montenegro essentially want the same, a peaceful and stable region and a European future. I am sure that by building our relations we are contributing to the stabilisation of the region. I am pleased with the talks we had and believe that Croatian-Montenegrin relations have a good prospect, in the interest of the two countries and all their citizens as well as in the interest of the region and Europe," said Mesic.
Vujanovic was also received by Parliament Speaker Vladimir Seks. They said they were pleased with bilateral relations.