Foreign Minister Says Serbian Government to Decide on Countermeasures after Croatia Rejects Vucic’s Visit

Nikola Selakovic (BETAPHOTO/MILOS MISKOV)

Serbian Foreign Minister Nikola Selakovic said on July 17 that Croatia not allowing Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic to visit Jasenovac "is a terrifying decision" and announced that Serbia would decide on "countermeasures."

Speaking to reporters in the ministry building, Selakovic read the official diplomatic note that the Croatian Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs sent to the Serbian embassy in Zagreb on July 15, which reads that Vucic's visit was declined because it had not been announced and officially arranged between the two states.

According to Selakovic, the Croatian ministry stressed that visits by the highest state officials to the Jasenovac memorial area "could not be private in character," adding that any visit would be possible if arranged through the usual diplomatic channels.

Selakovic also said that the Serbian ministry had responded with a note to the Croatian embassy in Belgrade, but that the "charge d'affaires of the embassy declined to accept that note." Recounting what the note stated, Selakovic said the Serbian ministry was "shocked by this illegal and anti-European decision," calling it an outright violation of "the principle of freedom of movement." Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabic said Vucic had deferred the visit "for the sake of good relations" between Serbia and Croatia.