Plenković asks Milanović to explain Dodik's unannounced visit to Croatia

(Patria) - Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković says he was not informed about the unannounced meeting between President Zoran Milanović and Republika Srpska leader Milorad Dodik.

Plenković points out that he now expects an urgent initiative from the opposition to convene an extraordinary session of parliament to demand a detailed explanation from Zoran Milanović on how it is possible that his guest arrived without prior announcement through the usual channels.

Plenković stated this after a government session, the last one before the holiday season, in response to a question about whether he knew Dodik was coming to visit Milanović in Hvar.

- I did not know. This is a very unusual situation. I have no influence on whom the President of the Republic invites to Croatia. He has full freedom and the right to do so. This is more about the technology of that trip.

I now expect an urgent initiative from the opposition to immediately convene an extraordinary session of the Croatian Parliament to discuss this issue and to seek an explanation from the President of the Republic on how it is possible that he had a guest without the usual announcement - said Plenković.

When asked if the Ministry of Internal Affairs had information about this, due to entry into Croatian airspace, i.e., crossing the Schengen border, Plenković said that he did not have it in the normal way.

- If the state, all its services, diplomatic services, police, air traffic control, the Croatian army, everyone who should know, had been asked for the usual permits, all would have been approved, so this somewhat mystical arrival seems a bit outside the usual framework.

But, well, when you have people who don't respect even their own Statehood Day, then anyone can probably visit them, however and without announcement - Plenković concluded.

According to Croatian media, Dodik arrived at the meeting with Milanović in Hvar by a Serbian Ministry of Internal Affairs helicopter, and Plenković says he saw this in the media, or rather, that Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić said so.

- I was not aware of whose helicopter he was arriving in or how he was arriving. I appeal to all of you, you have every right, to have the person who invited Dodik explain all these details - concluded Plenković.