SDPs Relation With Serbia to Be Better than HDZs - Current Events - Croatia

Relations between Croatia and Serbia are increasingly good, but there is still room for improvement. There are issues still to be discussed.

Chairman of the Serbian National Assembly Oliver Dulic and president of the Croatian Social Democratic Party (SDP) Zoran Milanovic held a friendly meeting at Zagreb’s Regent Esplanade Hotel on Tuesday evening.

Long-time friends

The two have been friends for quite a number of years and yesterday discussed both private and business issues.

-We met abroad several years ago. We will discuss state and private issues. The relations between Croatia and Serbia are increasingly good, but they can always be better. There are issues we need to start discussing, so… Actually, we started several years ago – Milanovic said.

Asked about whether he thought that the two countries’ relations would improve if the SDP won the upcoming parliamentary elections in Croatia, Milanovic said: ”They will certainly improve”.

The issue of Croats in Serbia of exceptional importance

On the other hand, Dulic voiced his plans for the improvement of the position of Croats in Serbia.

-This issue is of exceptional importance. I think that in the future our relations should be built on much more realistic and rational foundations. I believe that there are two bases for future relations between Serbia and Croatia. The first is certainly the development of economic cooperation that will contribute to a better life of citizens of both countries, and the other is the protection of national minorities, both Serbs in Croatia and Croats in Serbia – Dulic said, adding that he would personally insist on solving this issue.

-Of course I am interested in the rights of Croats in Vojvodina and I must say that I am personally investing efforts into that issue – Dulic continued.

He also briefly commented on the issue of Kosovo.

Visit with Croatian Parliament Speaker

Before he ended his visit to Zagreb, Dulic visited his Croatian counterpart, Vladimir Seks, wwith whom he had had dinner at Westin Hotel. In May, after Dulic had been elected, he announced his visit to Zagreb. Speaking about hate speech and intolerance in the national assembly, Dulic said he would use the experience and work models of the Croatian parliament.

Solution for Kosovo

-This is a difficult problem that additionally frustrates our people and when we have a combination of national frustrations and difficult economic situation of our country, it is no wonder that we have such a political situation – Dulic explained.

He voiced hope that the status of Kosovo would be solved through an agreement between Belgrade and Pristina.

-I think that this would contribute to finding some kind of solution that would not be frustrating and that would be such as to have no winners or losers – he concluded.