Yugoslav president in landmark visit to Sarajevo

Yugoslav president Mr Vojislav Kostunica has arrived in Sarajevo on the first official visit by a Yugoslav leader to the Bosnian…

Yugoslav president Mr Vojislav Kostunica has arrived in Sarajevo on the first official visit by a Yugoslav leader to the Bosnian capital since it was torn apart by war in 1992.

Mr Kostunica was met by Bosnian Foreign Minister Mr Jadranko Prlic and other officials at Sarajevo airport, which is guarded by troops from the NATO-led Stabilisation Force overseeing the peace established in 1995.

He then drove to the city centre down a road known during the conflict as "Snipers Alley" and lined with buildings still damaged by shelling from Bosnian Serb forces who besieged the city throughout the war.

Mr Kostunica had said he hoped his visit would help to restore trust between Bosnia and Yugoslavia, whose previous president, Mr Slobodan Milosevic, is widely blamed for sponsoring the Serb separatists with the aim of carving out a "Greater Serbia".

READ MORE

He was due to meet the three members of Bosnia's post-war presidency - Serb Mr Zivko Radisic, who is the current chairman, Croat Mr Ante Jelavic and Muslim Mr Halid Genjac - and hold a joint news conference with them.

Yugoslav Foreign Minister Mr Goran Svilanovic, also in Sarajevo, will sign a protocol with Mr Prlic on cooperation between their two ministries, building on the establishment of diplomatic ties last month.

Mr Kostunica will hold talks with Mr Wolfgang Petritsch, international overseer of the peace process, visit a Serb Orthodox church in Sarajevo and meet leaders of Bosnia's inter-religious council before leaving for Belgrade.

Reuters