The State Secretary for Political Affairs at the Croatian Foreign Ministry, Mario Nobilo, has expressed dissatisfaction to Serbian Ambassador Stanimir Vukicevic over unacceptable and insulting statements made by Serbia's President Boris Tadic and Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic, the Croatian ministry said in a statement on Saturday.
The Serbian ambassador was told that Croatia recognised Kosovo as an independent country with which it develops, just like with all the other Southeast European countries, including Serbia, friendly relations based on mutual respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, and that it contributes to regional stability and security in the European spirit, the ministry said.
At the same time, Croatia strongly supports the protection of all human and minority rights in Kosovo as well as the restoration of dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina.
Croatia's policy of promoting dialogue and mutual respect is in line with the policy of its EU partners and NATO allies and Croatia will not abandon it. That policy also includes the prospect of membership in Euro-Atlantic structures for all Southeast European countries, the statement said.
The prospect of membership of Euro-Atlantic structures in this region is the best guarantee that the aggression and destruction of the Slobodan Milosevic regime will never happen again, the ministry said.
Asked to comment on Croatian Prime Minister Jadranka Kosor's visit to Pristina earlier this week, Serbian President Boris Tadic said on Friday that the partnership between Croats and Albanians should not be built to the detriment of others, in this case the Serb people, adding that Kosor was rekindling old hostilities to secure financial benefit for her country.
During the visit to Kosovo, Kosor said that Croatia was willing to help establish dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia. "We support Kosovo's territorial integrity and equal rights for all citizens," she said.
"You can have in Croatia the best friend in Southeast Europe and you can always count on that," Kosor said in Pristina, underlining that Croatia and Kosovo had strengthened their friendship in the fight "against the tyrant Slobodan Milosevic and Greater Serbia aspirations."
During a visit to Banja Luka, Bosnia and Herzegovina, on Thursday, Serbian Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic indirectly criticised Kosor for her statements in Kosovo, saying that those who have Kosor as their best friend did not need enemies.
