PM Plenkovic condemns the incident by Vojislav Seselj during the visit by Croatia's parliamentary delegation to Serbia

Prime Minister and leader of the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) Andrej Plenkovic on Wednesday most harshly condemn the incident by Vojislav Seselj during the visit by Croatia's parliamentary delegation to Serbia, adding that in his opinion the delegation "appropriately responded to that sort of provocation."

The parliamentary delegation abruptly terminated the official visit to Serbia in the wake of an incident by Serbian Radical Party leader and MP in Serbia's parliament Seselj who trampled on the Croatian flag in Serbia's parliament.

"The incident was caused by a convicted war criminal, Vojislav Seselj, who desecrated the Croatian flag and insulted the Croatian delegation during their visit to Serbia's parliament, deserves the harshest condemnation," Plenkovic underscored after a meeting the HDZ parliamentary group.

In the wake of the incident, the Croatian Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs already sent a protest note to Serbia's Embassy in Zagreb, Plenkovic said and added that he had spoken to Speaker Gordan Jandrokovic who informed him that the Croatian delegation decided by consensus to return to Zagreb, considering the gravity of the incident.

"I think that is an appropriate response to that sort of provocation. I am not glad that this has occurred in the context of a well prepared, organised visit and when the speaker in fact was to have attended the opening of the Croatian Chamber of Commerce office in Belgrade where we would have in that way provided yet another quality investment in the further development of trade and overall economic relations," Plenkovic said. He added that Jandrokovic was supposed to meet with President Aleksandar Vucic on Thursday and Prime Minister Ana Brnabic and later he was expected to meet with representatives of the Croat minority for talks.

"However, an act of provocation occurred and in my judgement, leaving was the only appropriate response by the Croatian delegation," he claimed. 

Plenkovic did not wish to comment on the fact that Serbia's embassy refused to accept the protest note from the Croatian foreign ministry, adding that in his opinion they should have accepted it.

The content of the note is absolutely appropriate considering the nature of Seselj's incident, Plenkovic said.

He mentioned that during his conversation with Jandrokovic he did not get the impression that other officials in Serbia in any way associated with that unfortunate incident. 

"On the contrary, I expect Serbia to condemn that incident and after a dialogue is established we will see what next," Plenkovic said.

He added that he had not spoken with Serbia's Prime Minister Brnabic and that he "would see whether he would."

Text: Hina

News