ZAGREB, May 12, 2020 – Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić on Tuesday accepted the credentials of the new Croatian Ambassador, Hidajet Biščević, saying that he expects the two countries to overcome problems originating in their different understanding of the past, and to commit to developing good neighbourly relations.
Vučić emphasised that he would continue to promote the region’s stability, pursuing a policy of peace and cooperation, the Office of the President of Serbia stated in a press release.
Welcoming the new ambassador, the Serbian president expressed hope that Biščević would “contribute to more stable and substantive relations between the two countries with his considerable diplomatic experience”.
Biščević emphasised that he was ready to contribute, on the basis of European values, to the promotion of relations between Serbia and Croatia, which, he said, were “very important for regional stability and the progress of the region.”
Considering the fact that Serbia’s goal is EU membership, Vucic stated that he welcomed the fact that Croatia had kept the topic of enlargement on the agenda during its presidency of the Council of the EU, which resulted in the recent virtual EU-Western Balkans summit.
Biščević said that Croatia had shown special responsibility towards the Western Balkans and support for the region’s European journey during its presidency.
Vučić and Biščević agreed that both countries should prioritise economic cooperation.
The Croatian ambassador said that he had prepared proposals for cooperation projects in the areas of infrastructure and energy, such as the restoration of navigation along the Sava and Danube rivers, while Vučić said that the proposals would be examined and implemented when possible.
Vučić and Biščević expressed hope that the work of joint commissions for solving outstanding issues, including the issue of missing persons, would resume as soon as the epidemiological situation allows it.
Vučić also said that Serbia would continue to improve the status of the Croat community in Serbia, and that he was in talks with Croatia’s state leadership about the status of Croatian Serbs.
More news about relations between Croatia and Serbia can be found in the Politics section.
