Svilanovic: Genuine reconciliation only through better ties

BELGRADE- The situation has been created which should direct the two countries' public toward the search for a solution to the issues the war left behind, Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council Goran Svilanovic stated on Tuesday, commenting on the ruling of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on mutual genocide suits filed by Croatia and Serbia.

"I believe that a situation has been created which should direct the public in Serbia and Croatia toward the search for a solution to all the matters the war left behind, including the crimes described in the suit and counter-suit for which the evidence was put forth," Svilanovic told Tanjug.

By its contents, the ICJ ruling is just what most experts and laymen in Serbia and Croatia expected it to be, he said.

"I believe that the responsibility rests on the individuals heading the two countries to do all they can to deal with the consequences that have to do with the missing, property issues and of course, to try and do all they can together to improve the living standards," he said.

Svilanovic underscored that the Regional Cooperation Council insists on the improvement of economic and political cooperation, as well as the cooperation between the countries in the region in an entire series of sectors, in which the cooperation between Serbia and Croatia would bear key importance.

The Regional Cooperation Council will be there to help improve cooperation in all areas, as genuine reconciliation can be achieved only through improvement of cooperation, especially when it comes to the economic life of both countries and all their citizens, Svilanovic noted.

This will require time and a dialogue in the Serbian and Croatian public on the matter will be...