Serbia-Montenegro's president arrives in Croatia

Serbia-Montenegro's president visited neighboring Croatia Tuesday to discuss issues such as the return of refugees and the search for people missing since Croatia's war for independence from the former Yugoslav federation. Serbia-Montenegro president Svetozar Marovic began his one-day trip in the capital Zagreb meeting with his Croatian counterpart Stipe Mesic.

Croatia's minority Serbs, backed by the Serb-dominated Yugoslav army, rebelled against the country's secession from the old Yugoslavia in 1991. More than 10,000 people were killed and hundreds of thousands were driven from their homes. Fighting between the two republics ended in 1995, after the government recaptured lands seized by rebels.

Although tensions continue to linger, large strides have been made in normalizing relations, including cultural exchanges, like concerts and sporting competitions.

The recent capture and trial of Croatia's leading war crimes suspect Gen. Ante Gotovina also expected to be on the agenda. The arrest has increased pressure on Serbian authorities to find Serbian fugitives, most notably former Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic and his military commander Ratko Mladic. Marovic was also scheduled to meet with Prime Minister Ivo Sanader and other political leaders, reports the AP. I.L.