Each issue related to Western Balkan countries (the eastern part of the peninsula is already a part of the European Union) is automatically a regional matter. War crime inheritance, social, political and economic transition, organised crime and so on. Some countries may seem to achieve more success than others, but apart from the fact that they may be generally declared as undeveloped, they all share the same problems. But despite their disagreements, there is one thing they share in common - determination to become a part of the EU. And in order to achieve that goal, they all have to make good neighbourly relations, and although it takes an enormous effort, they all seem successful in that mission.

The task is grave indeed. Certain groups within the international community have started commenting Bosnia and Herzegovina as a "failed project," as if "it has achieved international legitimacy, but not the internal one," as Prime Minister of one of Bosnian entities Milorad Dodik has recently said. Regarding these Bosnian internal frictions, Serbia and Croatia have initiated a verbal discussion on how these two countries, as Dayton Peace Agreement guarantors, should react in situation like this.

Serbia hasn`t still got over the fact that Montenegro has decided to secede from its union with our country four years ago, but Serbia`s pain is additionally increased by the fact that Kosovo`s independence was recognised by Slovenia, Croatia, Macedonia and Montenegro. Bosnia and Herzegovina has refused to do that due to the conflicts within this three-presidential type of central government, for it is likely that representatives of Serbs will not support the idea of independent Kosovo.

Montenegro faces with organised crime and the fact that it is the only former Yugoslav republic in which leaders from Communist era that have supported the collaboration with then Serbian president Milosevic are still remaining in power.

Finally, Macedonia cannot count on EU and NATO membership because of the name dispute with Greece. Official Athens strongly disapproves the idea of having a neighbouring country named after one of the largest provinces in the northern part of Greece. These differences cannot be solved not even with the assistance of UN missions, USA, or EU emissaries.

A slight glance proves that Western Balkans deal with enormous political problems which not only decelerate further development, but threat to destabilise whole region. These problems are not to be ignored, particularly now, when Europe tries to solve its own difficulties in circumstances of economic crisis, rather than to motivate Balkan countries to take EU integrations seriously.

But not many couldn`t imagine that, after Ivo Josipovic who won Croatian presidency, Croatia and Serbia would strengthen their relations. But both Croatian and Serbian presidents see themselves as leaders in professional and private aspects. Croatia believes that the leadership belongs to it for this country has accomplished more conditions necessary for EU membership status than any other regional one. Serbia, on the other hand, counts on President Boris Tadic`s charisma. The question is - does Balkans need any leader at all?

"This rapprochement and development of regional relations does not refer to Josipovic and Tadic only, but it seems to be essential characteristic of all regional officials, and I wish to believe that it is a permanent, not temporarily trend. Rapprochements are not taken as political risks anymore. However, regional collaboration is one of the most important EU conditions, and both Serbia and Croatia are on the same path," explains Zivorad Kovacevic, the head of Serbia`s European Movement.

Croatian president has directly discussed in Bosnian parliament on his country`s responsibility regarding partition of Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as Serbia has made an enormous effort to condemn a crime committed against Bosniaks in Srebrenica. These steps lead toward the regional stabilisation. Certain political groups in both countries, lacking strength and will to withdraw from disastrous form of nationalism which led the whole region into fatal conflicts, have expressed their anger. It indicates that the process of normalisations and rapprochement will not be smoothly conducted.

"Mr. Ivo Josipovic` speech before Bosnian parliament was very significant. Although he is not the first to speak out loud on Croatian politics` dark side during 1990s, he should be praised for putting his country on a new, European course. His speeches in Sarajevo and Mostar were very well accepted by ordinary people," says Branko Caratan, professor at the Zagreb Faculty of Political Sciences.

While competing for leading position in region, one shouldn`t loose the sight of Bosnia and Herzegovina and its weak spot. It is obvious that this country cannot rely on international community`s authority only, for its stabilisation depends on Belgrade and Zagreb as well.

"It is important to create such political conditions, so no side would have the impression that these new circumstances might make them losers. Bosnia might also experience democratic revival, and by that I mean the redefinition of system based on Dayton Agreement, which, most likely, Croatian community does not feel comfortable with. What we need is Bosnia and Herzegovina with explicit federal, confederal and elements of concession", professor Cataran explains.

In order to ensure success, the European Union, and not only it, choose to implement trilateral diplomacy model which brings three opposed sides followed by an influential regional country` representative. Serb-Croatian relations have been put on new foundations with the assistance of Hungarian president Laszlo Solyom. It`s no wonder Hungary was selected for this mission. This country was once a part of Eastern block, also a country that passed a period of transition; it borders both Serbia and Croatia, and leads proactive regional policy based on European integrations, fully aware that it is in her interest to maintain stability on south boundaries.

A good example illustrates the meeting between Haris Silajdzic and Boris Tadic under the patronage of Abdullah Gul, president of Turkey - a country that has managed to position itself as a regional force, but in a different and rather constructive manner. There`s no doubt that these encounters will be more frequent in the future. These meetings are probably the best way for resolving all misunderstandings, for an important political figure stands between two political figures, even if these occasion mean nothing but a symbolic events.

It doesn`t matter whether Bosnian Muslim leader and Serbian official could argue again in the future, but what`s important is that these two leaders will do their best in order to please their powerful host who doesn`t wish to bare a disturbing memory on a failed political summit, particularly if it considers insignificant partners. As some European media conclude, the key of success lies in trilateral diplomacy.

An epilogue of the legal process regarding the Kosovo independence, brought before the International Court of Justice, is one of the best examples.

Representatives of Serbs and Albanians has finally sit at the same table in Sarajevo at recently summit on European integrations of Western Balkan, without flags and other state symbols, and this might be taken as the illustration of president Tadic` words, when before just constituted Serbian parliament he said: "We have to negotiate with Albanians".

This process will be long, painful, full of ups and downs, but just few years ago a simple handshake between Serbian and Croatian presidents was enough to make region more stable. Now, they can easily be seen having lunch on a yacht in Adriatic Sea, or in a household somewhere in Vojvodina.