ZAGREB, Aug 23 (Hina) - While visiting Montenegro, Croatian President Stjepan Mesic granted an interview to the local news agency Mina on Friday in which he addressed current relations between the two countries, their future, and
issues hampering ties because of the 1990s war.
ZAGREB, Aug 23 (Hina) - While visiting Montenegro, Croatian
President Stjepan Mesic granted an interview to the local news
agency Mina on Friday in which he addressed current relations
between the two countries, their future, and issues hampering ties
because of the 1990s war. #L#
Concluding that relations among the countries in the region are
improving all the time, Mesic said there "are issues which haven't
been completely resolved. This will continue to obstruct our
relations, if not through politics then through the memory of the
unnecessary war which was not imposed by Montenegro".
Mesic said the causes of the 1990s war lay in former Yugoslav
President Slobodan Milosevic's wrong policy and estimate that he
could create a Greater Serbia on the ruins of Yugoslavia. That,
Mesic said, led to everyone getting damaged by the war, Serbia
included and the Serbs in particular.
"That is something that will continue to haunt us for a long time,"
Mesic said, but added "we must not be slaves to it" but settle
current issues so that future generations would not have to.
"Those who caused the war have to answer. Those guilty of crimes
must bear the consequences and guilt must be individualised," Mesic
said, adding that when guilt was completely individualised, either
before an international or a domestic court, collective
accusations would no longer be made.
Asked about Croatia's claim against Yugoslavia for genocide, Mesic
said the claim "still exists, arguments exists" and that Croatia
would make a political decision on the matter in due time.
As for the possibility of introducing dual citizenship for
Croatians and Montenegrins, Mesic said this issue was not discussed
on his visit to Montenegro but had been during previous meetings
with Montenegro's president and prime minister.
"That is an issue we have to resolve because it will improve
communication," he said, adding that borders must not be closed.
"You see that Europe is opening them. It's one of the open issues.
The sooner we settle it, the easier we will communicate."
Asked about public reaction to this issue in Croatia, Mesic said
that on the one hand the public was still encumbered by the recent
past but on the other, reality had to be taken into account.
"We have to resolve what the present demands so that those coming
after us won't have to do it," the Croatian president said.
(hina) ha