Akhir 27, 1432 H/April 1, 2011, SPA -- The leaders of three former Yugoslav republics agreed on Friday to join forces for business ventures in large markets such as Russia and Africa, AP reported. Serbia, Croatia and Slovenia will combine resources for better competitiveness and exchange business information, according to a statement issued by Serbia's President Boris Tadic, Croatia's Prime Minister Jadranka Kosor and Slovenia's Prime Minister Borut Pahor. «We have shown readiness to cooperate in areas where we have joint interest,» Croatia's Kosor said after the talks held in an old royal villa in the central Serbian town of Smederevo, on the Danube river. The meeting reflects efforts to improve regional cooperation in the Balkans following ethnic wars in the 1990s and the decision of former foes to jointly try to access foreign markets is an important boost to such efforts. Slovenia is the only former Yugoslav republic that is a member of the European Union. Croatia is the next in line to join the 27-nation bloc, while Serbia hopes to become a candidate for entry later this year. The leaders said that while there are a number of issues that remain unresolved from the breakup of Yugoslavia _ such as the missing or the refugees _ they are ready to move on to solve them. «We are convinced that even the toughest problems must be resolved in the shortest period possible,» Tadic said. The statement issued by the three leaders said that their agreement paves the way for the governments to hammer out cooperation in construction, defense industry, transport and communications. The leaders said that their countries share «same interests and experience.» Serbia and Croatia supported each other's EU bid and Slovenia said it would support both countries from within the EU. Tadic and Kosor also announced plans to organize a donors conference to help solve the problem of refugees. «Our relations are on an upward path,» said Tadic. «We are solving problems inherited from the former Yugoslavia, and gradually we are setting an example for the others.»
