Serbian delegation’s visit abused for scandalous act, Croatia expects apology

The member of a Serbian delegation who said that Knin was “Serbian occupied territory” should not have been in Knin at all, but handing over humanitarian aid to earthquake victims in Banija, reads a document published on Friday

The member of a Serbian delegation who said that Knin was “Serbian occupied territory” should not have been in Knin at all, but handing over humanitarian aid to earthquake victims in Banija, reads a document published on Friday.

The delegation, led by an official of the Serbian Ministry of State Administration and Local Self-Government, which included Miloš Stojković, should have been visiting Croatia January 24-26 to deliver humanitarian aid to Sisak-Moslavina County, reads the note from the Serbian Embassy in Zagreb, sent to Croatian authorities on 23 January.

The delegation included three officials and five reporters.

Knin, where the contentious recording was made, is in Šibenik-Knin County and was not affected by the earthquake.

Addressing a news conference, Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Gordan Grlić Radman said the visit by the Serbian delegation was abused by one of its members who posted the scandalous video and that Croatia considered the act unacceptable and a provocation.

Croatia’s Ambassador to Belgrade, Hidajet Biščević, handed Croatia’s protest note, prompted by the incident, to officials at the Serbian Foreign Ministry.

"According to our ambassador, the Serbian ministry distanced itself from what was verbally described as inappropriate and harmful statements in the video recording in question,” Grlić Radman said.

 “However, since we expressed our protest officially, by a note, we also expect from the Serbian government an explanation, an appropriate reaction, an apology through official channels," said the minister.

He noted that the Croatian police were investigating the incident and did not rule out the possibility, after all the facts are established, that Stojković would be declared persona non grata in Croatia.

While climbing on the Knin Fortress, Stojković filmed a video in which he greeted his friends from the “Serbian occupied territory.” He also speaks in the video of the return of the Serbian Krajina and the removal of the Croatian flag from the Knin Fortress.

After the video went viral, Stojković denied having anything to do with it.

Grlić Radman said Croatia had no proof to the contrary, but that it certainly was a member of the Serbian delegation. “A theologian, who came with a humanitarian goal, abused that goal and caused harm to our very sensitive relations, which takes us back into the past and disturbs the public,” the minister said.

Text: Hina/MFEA

 

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