"Kosovo is a reality in our region..."

Stjepan Mesic is the President of Croatia, having won a second term in office in 2005. While on an official visit to Albania, he made a reference to his country's danger-laden, but precedent-setting decision to recognizing the independence of Kosovo.

Amongst other things, the President noted the following: "Kosovo is a reality in our region and everybody should learn to live with it...The only solution for the future of the region is regional cooperation and European integration."

He also threw a rhetorical shot at the ongoing problems of jingoism and nationalism that have been emanating out of the region -- including from those EU member states that have refused to recognize Kosovo. "We must stop being hostage of the past and the historical myths," he said.

Mesic is a brave and principled man. I remember, way back in 2000-2001, when he came to power following the death of his predecessor, Franjo Tudjman, he was one of the few (or only?) statesmen in ex-Yugoslavia that made poignant calls for reconciliation, an end to ethnic nationalism, as well as a return of Serb refugees to the Croatian Krajina region, from which they had been ethnically cleansed en masse in 1995. The reactions he got from nationalists within his own country was predictable, but it seems that his longevity has been secured; more moderate voices grew and recognized the validity of such points and of moving on.

Now is no exception. Hopefully, Mesic's words are being heeded by those that need such reminders the most.