Jerusalem - The Croatian President, Mr Stipe Mesic, opened a new chapter in relations with Israel, the Jewish state's Foreign Minister, Mr Shimon Peres said, apologising for his country's wartime massacre of around 30,000 Jews.
"Whatever evil, whatever wrong the Croats may have inflicted upon others, including of course the Jews, deeply affects me, and therefore I believe that one should certainly apologise," Mr Mesic, the first Croatian president ever to visit Israel, told a press conference.
Mr Peres said the visit marked a "new chapter" in ties with Croatia, and that Israel would consider opening an embassy in the west Balkans state.