The President of Croatia Ivo Josipovic has visited the Serbian capital of Belgrade in what has been hailed as a historic milestone in the relationship between the two countries which fought a bloody war in the 1990s.

From 1991-1995 Croatia fought its own war of independence against the Serbian forces of Slobodan Miloševi? following the breakup of Yugoslavia.

The current Serbian President, Boris Tadic, said that his country hoped for good relations with Croatia, while Mr Josipovic said that peace and stability are in the interests of both nations and that they were working together to solve issues unresolved by the war, such as the return of refugees.

Both Mr Tadic and Mr Josipovic said they wished to see genocide charges laid by both governments before the International Court of Justice solved through out-of-court settlements.