Croatia’s recent decision to increase its troop contingent in the NATO-led KFOR mission in Kosovo seems to have angered Serbia’s senior officials and prompted Vulin to say that Croatia and Kosovo “are brothers by arms ” and accuse the Croatian foreign minister of wishing to deploy “an occupying force on the territory of Serbia.”
Vulin is actually promoting the defeated policy pursued by Slobodan Milošević, the conquering Great Serbia policy that had claims on what did not belong to Serbia, said Grlić, underscoring that on the other hand, Croatia has never demanded any border redrawing.
Addressing reporters in Zagreb on Sunday after the opening of an exhibition on the occasion of Europe Day, Grlić Radman said that the objections directed against Croatia are Serbia’s attempt “to shun its responsibility and to divert attention; from its problems to non-topical issues.”
“When it comes to the international recognition of Kosovo, Serbia is aware of the international pressure. It is a reality, and it is projecting its frustrations onto Croatia,” Grlić Radman said.
He also recalled that Croatia has always supported and supports Serbia’s integration into Europe. However, he warns that “the journey to Europe goes via Croatia.”
In this context, he said that the situation in the Western Balkans is one of the topics on the agenda of the regular monthly meeting of EU foreign ministers set for Monday and that Croatia “is not satisfied with a state of democracy in Serbia and its struggle against corruption and efforts to carry out reforms.”
He reiterated that Serbia also fails to comply with the 2004 agreement on protecting the Croat minority.
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