- Published: 05.03.2015.
Croatian govt won't impose visas for Serbian citizens
The government on Thursday sent a negative opinion to parliament concerning a proposal for imposing visas on Serbian citizens, as proposed by MP Ivan Simunovic of the Croatian Party of Rights Ante Starcevic (HSP AS) in light of Serbia not taking any action with regard to the hate speech by war crimes indictee Vojislav Seselj.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Vesna Pusic explained that the proposal cannot be formally and legally adopted due to a recommendation by the European Commission in 2001 which placed Serbia on the list of countries whose citizens did not require a visa to enter the European Union and that list is valid for Croatia too, Pusic said.
She added that "it was high time all those who think that Croatia is a small, threatened country that needs to be defended, changed their psychology because Croatia is a leader in European integration of southeast Europe."
It is in Croatia's vital interest that countries in the region achieve European standards and Croatia will help them in that, she said.
(Hina) sp