Kukan: Serbia, Croatia should build lasting reconciliation

BRUSSELS - Serbia and Croatia should accept the International Court of Justice's (ICJ) decision on their mutual genocide lawsuits and turn to building a lasting reconciliation, said Eduard Kukan, chairman of the European Parliament Delegation for Relations with Countries of South East Europe.

By no means is the ICJ verdict, which states that Serbia and Croatia did not commit genocide, to be interpreted as an effort to put in question the crimes by both sides, such as killings and mass expulsions, Kukan wrote in his blog.

"It is important, however, that these crimes do not serve as a basis for bilateral relations between Serbia and Croatia," he noted.

Both sides to the conflict should accept the decision of the Court and take it as an opportunity for improving their bilateral dialogue aimed at working together toward a lasting reconciliation, said the chairman of the EP delegation.

Kukan noted that Serbia and Croatia should find a new common ground, and build their relations based on the countries' European path and on their joint effort towards lasting peace and stability in the region.

Photo Tanjug, T. Valic (archive)