Omerovic said that “the Republic of Serbia I all for relaxing relations with neighbouring states, good-neighbourly cooperation and dialogue on the open issues mutually noted as solvable”. Intensification of relations is evidenced by the visits of the highest state dignitaries i.e. the Serbian President’s visit to Croatia this year and the visit of Croatian President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic to Subotica in 2016 when the Declaration on Improving Relations and Resolving Open Issues between Serbia and Croatia was signed, said the Committee Chairman. He said that three significant laws are expected at the regular spring session which would improve the position of national minorities viz. Law on Protection of Freedoms and Rights of National Minorities, Law on of National Councils of National Minorities and a law on the use of national minority languages and script. The Committee Chairman also mentioned that Serbia had ratified the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, adding that Croatia’s experiences of the EU negotiation talks, especially as regards Chapter 23 which concerns national minority issues, are invaluable.

Ambassador Bakota said he was sure that the open issues would be resolved through dialogue and that Serbia would fulfil the assumed obligations and adopt the tenets of the European Union. He said that national minorities could be the tie that brings the two countries together and that he would be more than happy to share the experiences concerning chapters 23 and 24. “It is my experience that there is good will on both sides to resolve the open issues:” said Bakota mentioning as a good example the intensive talks at the provincial level. The Ambassador added that it is in Croatia’s interest that Serbia joins the European Union and that it supports the country’s efforts to that end. He took the opportunity to announce that talks are underway on the visit of Croatian Parliament Speaker Gordan Jandrokovic.

The officials also discussed the reconstruction of the house of Ban Jelacic in Petrovaradin, opening of a Croatian language and literature department at the University of Novi Sad and the mandates of the Croatian national minority at the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia as well as at the local and provincial level.

MP Tomislav Zigmanov also spoke at the meeting voicing a couple of open issues troubling the members of the Croatian national minority living in Serbia such as the threshold for an MP’s mandate which could be resolved by amending the Serbian Constitution.

The meeting was also attended by Ivan Sabolic, Minister Plenipotentiary of the Embassy of the Republic of Croatia in Serbia.