Serb Leader Apologises to Croatians for 1991 Massacre

Serbian President Boris Tadic apologised Thursday for crimes committed in the 1990’s against Croatian citizens.

Serbian President Boris Tadic pays tribute to some 18 Serb civilians killed by Croatian soldiers in 1991, on November 4, at Paulin dvor memorial site in Osijek. Tadic apologised for the abuses committed in the Croatian town of Vukovar by Belgrade-controlled Yugoslav forces. Stringer/Getty Images

Serbian President Boris Tadic apologised Thursday Nov 4, for crimes committed in the 1990’s against Croatian citizens, during a visit together with Croatian President Ivo Josipovic to memorials of both Serbian and Croatian victims in the battle of Vukovar.

“I came here to offer an apology and express regret,” Tadic said after he laid a wreath at Ovcara, reported Serbian newspaper Vesti.

At Ovcara, Serb forces massacred Croat hospital patients during the 1991 war, killing more than 200 Croats. Tadic, as quoted by Vesti-online was speaking about improving future relations, saying “A democratic Serbia wants to establish a policy of good neighborliness and cooperation ... It is a policy that is totally contrary to the policy of the nineties.”

The Mayor of Vukovar, Zeljko Sabo said both presidents sent a “clear message” that the countries are ready to become good neighbors and that the war is over.

To illustrate his intention Tadic said Serbia would participate in the reconstruction of Vukovar.

There were some protesters from the Croatian Party of Rights, objecting to Tadic’s visit.

The second memorial they visited was in a nearby village to commemorate 18 killed Serbs.

During the war, Serbia backed ethnic Serbs in Croatia who fought against Croatia’s independence from Serb-led Yugoslavia.