Serbia’s bid to join the European Union has won the backing of Croatia, despite a long-standing genocide case sparked by the bloody breakup of Yugoslavia. Croatian Prime Minister Ivo Sanader travelled to Belgrade for the first time since neighbourly relations were strained by Zagreb’s recognition of Kosovo last year, something Serbia rejects. Sanader told his hosts that they should not forget the past, but equally should not be swamped by it.

Relations have been difficult since the violent collapse of Yugoslavia in the early 1990s. Ethnic Serbs were forced to flee Croatia, including from the short-lived republic of Krajina. The memories are strong. Protestors gathered outside parliament in Belgrade to remind their leaders that they are also victims, who lost their homes and their hope as violence exploited racial tensions and shattered the Balkans. Serbia and Croatia agreed it is now time to move on.More about: Croatia, Serbia

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