(Newswire.net — September 24, 2015) — The time frame that the Serbian government gave Croatia to open its borders for cargo trucks from Serbia is up. According to the Croatian PM Zoran Milanovic, they wanted to open the borders, not just when Belgrade asks.
The Serbian government gave two days to Croatian authorities to open borders, or else.
“Croatia is an EU member. Serbia cannot, even if it wants, impose measures against Croatia as it has an agreement with the EU. Whatever Serbia does, or thinks to do, would be against the EU and I’m sure Serbia will not do that,” Milanovic said.
But it did. As the deadline expired Thursday midnight, Serbia banned all cargo trucks registered in Croatia and all the products made in Croatia the youngest EU member.
“From this moment, the Serbian police will not allow the entry through any border crossing any cargo vehicle registered in Croatia nor any truck carrying goods made in Croatia,” Serbian Minister of Internal Affairs, Nenad Stefanovic said at the press conference, Reuters reported.
“We are not satisfied, not happy, we just have to protect our country,” Stefanovic said to reporters referring to tens of millions of Euros that Serbia is losing because of Croatias “irresponsible” behavior.
The day before, Serbian PM Aleksandar Vucic argued that Croatia with its unilateral move broke several international laws and the International Trade Deal Serbia signed with EU.
In his response to Croatian cargo and products ban, Croatian counterpart Milanovic said that if Serbia messes with Croatia, it messes with EU. However, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission, Federica Mogherini urged Croatia not to use its EU membership as a shield and the refugees crisis as an excuse to draw unilateral moves that are aimed against the Serbian economy.
The Croatian government has ignored the EU’s “advice” and continues blocking cargo trucks from Serbia, which pushed Serbia to countermeasures. In addition, Croatian officials created a series of diplomatic incidents accusing Belgrade and Budapest of having a “secret deal” to relax Hungarian border by redirecting the refugee’s route to Croatia.
“After entering and register in Serbia, refugees receive the documents that allow them to stay 72 hours in our country , which again allows them to travel to any border crossing, and they do, because the refugees have no intention to stay in Serbia, no more they want to stay in Croatia or Hungary,” Serbian PM Vucic said in a public address.
Serbian PM Vucic emphasized that the problem occurred after Croatia failed to organize as a country and collapsed before some 30,000 immigrants entered the country. While Croatian PM Milanovic called Belgrade’s counteraction ridiculous, Serbin PM Vucic called Croatian lamentation over 30,000 refugees is ridiculous when at least 120,000 refugees have entered Serbia and the country has organized how to take care of them.
“From the beginning of the crisis, Serbia received more than 120,000 refugees and Croatia “fell apart” after received some 30,000 refugees,” Serbian PM Vucic said.
The situation in Croatia is significantly different than in other EU countries. Given that it is an election year in Croatia, nationalism grew exponentially.
Regardless that Croatia became a full EU member, Serbian officials said they understand it is an election year, however, Serbia would not allow any country to mess with its economy by flagrantly breaking their deals. “On the other hand, what do cargo trucks have to do with refugees?” asked Serbian PM Vucic. “It has nothing to do with refugees but has everything to do with wining the votes of nationalists in their country,” he added.
Immediately after Serbia drew its move, Croatia closed the country to anyone with Serbian passports, directly breaking the Schengen deal between Belgrade and Brussels – the EU Capital.
Croatia was involved in a “human smuggling” incident last week, when an unannounced train carrying over 1,000 asylum seekers, accompanied by around 40 Croatian police officers, was intercepted by Hungarian authorities. The incident prompted Hungarian accusations that Croatia had violated international laws.
European Commission is set to review the behavior of Croatia. The Serbian officials, however, fear that arbitrage will end as many before, on behalf of pro NATO country Croatia and against pro Russia country Serbia, which has nothing to do with international law or justice.
Meanwhile, Austrian media reports that their country will start sending back refugees to Croatia and Serbia provoking even greater chaos.