Kotromanovic: Croatia should block Serbia on its path to EU until they change their attitude to BiH

Speaking in HRT1's TV show 'Otvoreno' on Monday, former Croatian Defense Minister, Ante Kotromanovic, said that one should be concerned about the politics of Belgrade and not the politics of 'Banja Luka mandolin player' referring to Milorad Dodik.

He also made comments on Tomislav Nikolic's presence at the celebration in Banja Luka, marking the Day of RS; he pointed out that the Croatian foreign department should issue a warning that Serbia will never become a member of EU until it tunes in its politics to the EU foreign and security policies.

- We should not worry about 'Banja Luka mandolin player'. I'm thinking of Dodik. We should be worried about the politics of Belgrade. Today (January 9) Nikolic was down in Banja Luka. I think that as soon as tomorrow, our foreign ministry or whoever is responsible, should say it loud and clear that Serbia will never become a member of EU, it will never close the chapter of foreign policy and EU security, until it aligns its politics with the foreign policy of EU. When I say that, I primarily think of Bosnia and Herzegovina. And, the politics of EU (for BiH) is one united country, no playing around with it. I think we have to find our partners in Europe – French, Germans and others... and tell Belgrade loud and clear: 'Gentlemen, this is not how politics of good neighbor and spreading stability in the region should be run.'

- I would do it tomorrow, I would strongly and clearly request Belgrade to change its politics towards Banja Luka. I believe it to be the key problem, and not this Banja Luka mandolin player who tends to get on Europe's nerves every once in a while, Kotromanovic said.