First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Ivica Dacic said that it was a disgrace that Croatia protested against Serbia's criticism over the rehabilitation of the war criminal Stepinac, spiritual leader of the fascist Ustasha-run Independent State of Croatia (NDH).

"Stepinac used to bless the genocide perpetrated against Serbs, Jews and Romanies, and even formed a commission to convert Serbs to Catholicism. No one will ever prevent Serbia from raising its voice against rehabilitation of war criminals from the era of fascism and Ustasha-run NDH.

Serbia is committed to good-neighbourly relations and reconciliation, but no one will ever be allowed to humiliate Serbia and the victims of the Ustasha terror."