"The Croats sued us first and it would be logical, if we are all aspiring to join the European Union together, that they make the first move and drop that," Mrkic told Belgrade's Vecerenje Novosti daily of Thursday when asked if yesterday's meeting by the two countries' prime ministers would help with the stalemate in terms of an out-of-court settlement in the genocide suits Croatia and Serbia filed against one another.

Mrkic said there was reason to be optimistic about relations in the region and the EU integration process in which Serbia faces big challenges with regard to dialogue with Pristina and relations with neighbours.

"It's important to us that (EU accession) negotiations begin, but we mustn't fall into a trap and promise deadlines which aren't one hundred per cent certain. The messages coming from Berlin aren't encouraging but no one expects that we will be admitted to the EU five minutes after Croatia. Like all other candidates, we will negotiate the membership for years."

Mrkic believes the incumbent Serbian government "has done a lot to improve relations in the region and will continue to do so. I met with all my counterparts from the neighbouring countries, several times with some. A lot is being done in terms of concrete cooperation. The results are increasingly visible and there will be more and more of these."