21 November 2003

Senate Resolution Welcomes Serbian, Croatian Leaders' Apologies
Resolution 237 approved by Senate Foreign Relations Committee Nov. 7

The Senate Foreign Relations Committee passed a resolution welcoming the public apologies issued by the president of Serbia and Montenegro and the president of Croatia and urging other leaders in the region to advance reconciliation.

Serbia and Montenegro's President Svetozar Marovic and Croatia's President Stjepan Mesic exchanged the apologies during Mesic's visit to Belgrade September 10 -- the first visit to that city by a Croatian president since the Croats declared themselves independent from Yugoslavia in 1991.

Each leader apologized to those who suffered pain or damage during the Balkan conflict, and they also pledged to work together to ensure that individuals who committed crimes during the war would be brought to justice.

Senate Resolution 237, which was approved by the Committee on November 7, "commends the initiative and personal courage" of the two presidents, "recognizes the value of such apologies in the important process of reconciliation in Southeast Europe," and urges the governments in the region "to continue their efforts to encourage and advance reconciliation."

It also stresses the importance of resolving post-conflict issues, including the return of refugees and displaced people to their homes, and bringing war crimes suspects to justice through cooperation with the UN war crimes tribunal in The Hague.

The resolution, which was adopted unanimously, was sponsored by Democratic Senators Joe Lieberman (Connecticut) and Joseph Biden (Delaware), and Republican Senator John McCain (Arizona). It still must be voted on by the full Senate.

Following is the text of the resolution:

(begin text)

108th CONGRESS
1st Session

SENATE RESOLUTION 237

Welcoming the public apologies issued by the President of Serbia and Montenegro and the President of the Republic of Croatia and urging other leaders in the region to perform similar concrete acts of reconciliation.

Whereas the President of Serbia and Montenegro and the President of the Republic of Croatia each issued on September 10, 2003, a public statement of apology for the crimes committed by citizens of each country against citizens of the other country; and

Whereas the countries of Southeast Europe are struggling to move beyond the problems of the past and toward a brighter future that includes membership in both the European Union and NATO: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Senate--

(1) welcomes the public apologies issued on September 10, 2003, by the President of Serbia and Montenegro and the President of the Republic of Croatia;

(2) commends the initiative and personal courage demonstrated by their actions;

(3) recognizes the value of such apologies in the important process of reconciliation in Southeast Europe;

(4) notes public support within the region for these efforts;

(5) calls upon the governments in the region to continue their efforts to encourage and advance reconciliation; and

(6) reiterates the importance of resolving post-conflict issues, including--

(A) by ensuring that refugees and internally displaced persons have the right to return home; and

(B) by bringing persons indicted for war crimes to justice, including through cooperation with the International Criminal Tribunal on the Former Yugoslavia.

November 7, 2003
Reported [approved] without amendment

(end text)

(Distributed by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)

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