Croatian MP denied entry to Serbia: 'I could only turn around and go back to Vukovar'

(Patria) - Croatian Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Gordan Grlić Radman expressed dissatisfaction to his Serbian counterpart Ivica Dačić because a parliamentary representative and president of a right-wing opposition party, head of the Sovereignists Marijan Pavliček, was denied entry to Serbia on Saturday, February 4th.

The Croatian Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs (MVEP) conveyed a protest to the Serbian ambassador in Zagreb because of this.

"Minister Grlić Radman contacted his colleague Ivica Dačić as soon as he learned of the case yesterday and expressed his dissatisfaction with the treatment of Croatian citizens, who are being denied or having their entry into the Republic of Serbia made difficult.

Likewise, a protest was conveyed to the Ambassador of the Republic of Serbia in Zagreb, who was summoned to Zrinjevac this morning for a discussion on this matter," the MVEP told Hina.

Parliamentary representative and member of the parliamentary Committee for Croats outside Croatia Marijan Pavliček was invited to attend the 6th Šokačka večer (Šokac Evening) in Vajska (Vojvodina) on Saturday, February 4th, organized by the Croatian Cultural and Artistic Society "Antun Sorgg".

However, Pavliček ultimately did not attend this cultural event because the Serbian police did not allow him to enter Serbia. He told Večernji list that he did not know the reason for this.

- Serbian customs officers and police were correct, except that I sat in the car for three hours like some kind of criminal. In the end, they brought me a decision prohibiting me from entering the Republic of Serbia because, as they say, I threaten the security of the state and its citizens. After that, I could only turn around and go back to Vukovar - said Pavliček.

Speaking about his unpleasant experience, he notes that this was his first trip across the border with a diplomatic passport, and he immediately encountered a problem.

He also points out that he sees no reason for such actions by the Serbian police, especially at a time of warming relations between Croatia and Serbia, unless it is some kind of revenge because Aleksandar Vučić was not allowed to visit Jasenovac last year.

- I see no other reason than that it is for political reasons. My sin in all of this is that I wanted to visit the Croatian community in Serbia. If this is what they call warming relations, then we are in trouble - says Pavliček.

He adds that in his political work, he advocates for resolving border issues, improving the position of the Croatian minority in Serbia, and resolving the issue of missing persons.

Pavliček informed the Croatian Ambassador to Serbia Hidajet Biščević, the Consul of Serbia in Vukovar Aleksandar Nakić, and the Minister in the Government of Serbia Tomislav Žigmanov, who is also the president of the Democratic Alliance of Croats of Vojvodina (DSHV), about this incident.

Pavliček has also called a press conference for today, where he will speak in more detail about this diplomatic incident.