Croatian President Ivo Josipovic said in Belgrade on Monday that the meeting he had with his host, Serbian President Boris Tadic, on Sunday was held in an atmosphere full of understanding, expressing optimism about the further development of the two countries' bilateral relations.
"I have to emphasise once again that the talks were held in an atmosphere full of understanding, that we tackled a number of concrete issues, that our governments are cooperating well and I am a big optimist about the development of future relations, although we are all aware that there are serious problems that need to be resolved," Josipovic told reporters after talks with representatives of nongovernmental organisations for the protection of human rights on Monday.
Speaking at a meeting, held in the Belgrade office of the Humanitarian Law Fund, about suffering, reconciliation and victims, Josipovic stressed his position about reconciliation in the region was unchanged, adding that he would continue to contribute to the process and that he found a partner in Serbian President Tadic with whom he shared the same objectives when it came to reconciliation.
"I know that the time is going by slowly for the victims, and that justice, peace and understanding don't come easily," Josipovic said, adding that relations in the region had been improving lately.
Asked if Serbian President Tadic would visit Vukovar, Josipovic said he had no doubts about that as Tadic had announced his arrival in the past, adding he assumed the visit would take place relatively soon.
The director of the Humanitarian Law Fund, Natasa Kandic, praised the idea about Tadic's visit to Vukovar, adding that the most appropriate date would be between 18 and 20 November, when in 1991 fighting in the eastern Croatian town ended. She added she was confident that political conditions for this visit had matured.
Tadic told reporters after his meeting with Josipovic on Sunday that his visit to Vukovar could be expected, adding that he did not need an invitation for that.
"Nobody needs to invite me to the side where war crimes were committed, I will come of my own accord, and of course I will come together with my friend Ivo Josipovic. We shall select the right moment for that," said Tadic.
Josipovic started his first official visit to Serbia on Sunday. He and Tadic held a joint press conference after they met and told reporters that prosecuting war criminals, finding people missing from the war, refugee returns, and pursuing the policy of peace and cooperation were important for the future of good Croatia-Serbia relations.
Later today, the Croatian president is scheduled to hold talks with Serbian Prime Minister Mirko Cvetkovic.
