Harsh words from Serbia’s foreign minister.
Serbian Foreign Minister Ivica Dačić said that Serbia’s policy towards Croatia would be based on the principle of reciprocity in the future. He also pointed out that Belgrade would “do the same thing” if Zagreb were to decide to withdraw its ambassador, reports Jutarnji List on April 30, 2018.
“I hope that reason will prevail and that we will continue with our good-neighbourly cooperation, in the direction demonstrated by Croatian President Kolinda Grabar Kitarović and Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić. But, if someone wants a diplomatic war, they will have a diplomatic war,” said Dačić in an interview with the Serbian daily Informer, which was quoted by B92.
Dačić pointed out that Croatia had declared Serbian Defence Minister Aleksandar Vulin as a persona non grata in Croatia, and that Serbia countered with the same measure based on the principle of reciprocity.
“Reciprocal measures are common practice in diplomacy. Everyone does it. Of course, we are not happy with this, but we were forced. We have only reacted, we have responded to their moves. If there are new hostilities coming from the authorities in Zagreb, we are ready to react,” said Dačić.
The Serbian minister said that the reciprocity was “the mother of diplomacy,” and that both the US and Russian presidents Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin also use the same principle.
Talking about the possibility of Croatia potentially blocking Serbia’s accession negotiations with the European Union, Dačić said it was not likely that Zagreb would prevent the opening of new negotiating chapters with the European Union in June.
“They have tried to do it before, but they either did not succeed, or it did not last long,” he said.
After Croatia recently decided that Serbian Defence Minister Vulin could not enter its territory, Serbia responded by declaring Croatian Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Damir Krstičević as persona non grata. It is not certain whether Croatia will further retaliate for this decision. There were rumours that Croatia might withdraw its ambassador from Belgrade for consultations, but no decision has been made.
Translated from Jutarnji List.
