Europe

Home page

Europe

Serbia calls for pragmatic ways in developing ties with Croatia

29 April 2013 21:28 (UTC +04:00)

Baku-APA. Visiting Serbian First Deputy Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic said on Monday in Zagreb that the relations between Serbia and Croatia were key for the region and it shall be developed rationally and pragmatically, APA reports quoting Xinhua

Vucic, also Defence Minister of Serbia, said at a joint news conference with Croatian First Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Vesna Pusic, Serbian-Croatian relations were "the backbone of the region" and there was no need for emotion but more sincerity and credibility.

Pusic said that for the first time, serious steps have been made and serious headway is obviously ahead of us, which is paving the way for the talks on possible withdrawal of genocide lawsuits, according to local media.

Vucic, who arrived in Zagreb late Sunday, discussed with Croatian high rank officials on main issues including the problems remaining after the war, particularly the question of missing persons, economic cooperation once Croatia joins the European Union (EU) and Serbia's pathway to the EU.

During his stay in Zagreb, Vucic also met with Croatian President Ivo Josipovic and Prime Minister Zoran Milanovic.

Vucic expected that Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic will attend the celebration of Croatia's accession to the EU in Zagreb.

Vucic is the highest-ranking Serbian official to visit Zagreb since the current Serbian government took office in July last year. Earlier, Croatian and Serbian prime ministers Zoran Milanovic and Ivica Dacic met in Belgrade in the end of last year.