Serbia

A source close to the Serbian government told BIRN on Wednesday that Belgrade is preparing counter-measures against Croatia, to be put into effect on Thursday, unless Croatia withdraws its blockade of the border.

The source said one plan is to block any freight coming from Croatia and even stop all imports from the country.

Aleksandar Vucic has written to EU officials to warn that by closing the border with Serbia to freight traffic Croatia violated the SAA.

It also "inflicted direct damage to Serbia's economic cooperation with the European Union."

The Croatian Chamber of Economy has called for opening the border with Serbia in order to avert a disaster looming for the already weakened Croatian economy.

Aleksandar Vucic has sent a letter to EU officials asking for "an explanation od the brutal violation of the SAA" that Serbia signed with the organization.

The prime minister said on Wednesday that the border with Croatia remains closed for "a third, fourth" day and that Serbia is suffering great damage because of it.

Serbia is not ready to accept "thousands of people" who may wish to stay for a prolonged period of time, says Asylum Protection Center Director Rados Djurovic

According to him, the reason is that the country has the capacity to permanently accommodate 800 migrants and refugees.

Ivica Dacic says Croatia "has not learned lessons from the problems so far" while the Croatian prime minister "continues to provoke Serbia with his statements."

The Serbian foreign minister and first deputy prime minister added that "the words of Zoran Milanovic do not contribute to solving the problems."

Bulgarian Vice President Margarita Popova has thrown its support behind the united organization that is to represent Bulgarians living in Serbia, the President's press office has said.

The body is to be set up in the months to come, Bulgaria's Consul General Atanas Krastin is quoted as telling Popova at a meeting in the Serbian city in Nis.

Aleksandar Vucic says Serbia will start implementing a package of measures at midnight tomorrow if there is no agreement with Croatia to open border crossings.

Only trucks transporting "all kinds of perishable goods" will be allowed to cross into Croatia from Serbia via the Batrovci border crossings, B92 has learned.

The Croatia media are carrying the same information this afternoon.

Belgrade sets deadline for EU "to react" to Croatia's move

Aleksandar Vucic said on Tuesday morning Serbia will react to Croatia's shutting down of the border for Serbian trucks "unless the EU reacts by 14:00 (CET)."