"I welcome Tadic's visit to Vukovar as I welcomed his visit to Srebrenica. This is good," Mesic told the press at the Croatian Journalists' Association where he attended a book launch.

He, however, stressed that the authorities in Belgrade must do what Croatia had done when it comes to Bosnia and Herzegovina. "We told the Croats in Bosnia that Sarajevo is their capital and that their policy must be created in Bosnia and Herzegovina. I expect Belgrade to do the same," Mesic said.

Asked about Tadic's visit to Paulin Dvor, the former president said he agreed that every location where innocent victims were killed should be visited and the victims commemorated. "However, always with the message that it must never happen again," Mesic said.

The Vukovar city branch of the Croatian Party of Rights (HSP) called on Vukovar residents to gather along the state road leading from the water tower in Vukovar to Ovcara on the day of Tadic's visit and to express their disagreement with the visit of the Serbian president.

The vice-president of the local HSP, Petar Macut, said the HSP was not calling for a protest but for a reception for Tadic, in which case they were not obliged to notify the police.

Tadic is visiting Vukovar unofficially, which is tragic because such a visit carries no political weight and Tadic cannot apologise on behalf of Serbia for the aggression against Croatia in 1991, which we expect him to do, Macut said.