BELGRADE, Serbia, Jan. 10 (UPI) -- Serbian Justice Ministry Secretary Slobodan Homen said Tuesday the government welcomes news that Croatia may drop its genocide lawsuit against Serbia.
Homen said if Croatia withdraws its lawsuit, Serbia likely would drop its counter lawsuit charging Croatia with genocide, creating conditions "for talks on the solving of important issues," Radio B92 reported.
The two countries have accused each another of committing war crimes after the end of fighting in 1995. Croatia's allegations of war crimes is a roadblock to Serbia's bid to join the European Union.
Croatian officials did not comment on the possibility of the country dropping its lawsuit.
"As [the] Serbian government, we welcome the possibility of withdrawal of lawsuit by Croatia, as that is the best way to solve problems," Homen said on the state-owned broadcaster RTS in Belgrade.
Croatia raised the return of cultural treasures, war crimes and return of property as the three key issues, the secretary said. Serbia's main concerns were return of property, return of refugees and resolving of the issue of who really committed war crimes, he said.
Homen said prosecutors of Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia and Serbia must determine who committed war crimes, and then decide where the trials should be conducted.
