Serbia wants to build better relations with Croatia

ZAGREB - Serbian wants to build a relationship with Croatia characterized by mutual trust and respect and it is ready for a constructive political dialogue and willing to resolve all outstanding issues and to step up cooperation, Serbian Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic said in Zagreb Wednesday.

Speaking at a joint press conference with Croatian Foreign Minister Vesna Pusic, Dacic said that the issues between Belgrade and Zagreb included issues of the past, which should not burden future cooperation, issues concerning bilateral relations and economic cooperation, and possible cooperation in projects in the field of European integration, the Serbian Foreign Ministry said in a release.

Dacic said that the political situation in either Serbia or Croatia should not adversely affect bilateral relations.

"We live together in this region, we have been neighbors for centuries, and it is up to us to choose if we want to fight or talk to each other and find common interests to help us all live better and that is why I am here today," Dacic said.