The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Serbia delivered today a note of protest to the Charge d’Affaires a.i. of the Embassy of the Republic of Croatia in Belgrade, Ivan Sabolic, which reads as follows:

“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Serbia protests in the strongest terms to the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Republic of Croatia over the unacceptable statements made and actions taken on the occasion of marking the 20th anniversary of the military operation “Storm”, in which more than two thousand civilians were killed and more than two hundred thousand Serbs, citizens of the Republic of Croatia, were forced out never to return again.

In the presence of highest Croatian officials, in Knin, on 5 August 2015, slogans were cried out by the gathered crowd, constituting not only hate speech but a call for a lynch and annihilation of Serbs (“Kill, kill the Serb”, “For homeland ready”, “We Croats drink no wine, but the blood of Chetniks of Knin”, etc.), and the symbols of the Independent State of Croatia were displayed in the year when Europe is observing the 70th anniversary of the defeat of fascism and Nazism.

This conduct is totally inconsistent with the values of our civilization and Europe, and with the antifascist tradition of the European Union, in most blatant violation of the human and minority rights guaranteed by the international organizations of which the Republic of Croatia is a member. Such actions incite once again the killing and persecution of Serbs in the Republic of Croatia.

The Republic of Serbia expects the Republic of Croatia, as a full-fledged member of the European Union, to fulfil all the commitments undertaken by it in joining the EU, particularly those regarding the protection of minorities, return and integration of expellees. Considering that these and similar statements and actions have a strong adverse impact on the overall bilateral relations and the political stability in the region, the Republic of Serbia expects that their organizers and perpetrators will be punished, in accordance with the relevant laws and international conventions.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Serbia avails itself of this opportunity to renew to the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Republic of Croatia the assurances of its highest consideration.”