Croatia "won't put malicious obstacles" in front of Serbia

Croatia "won't put malicious obstacles" in front of Serbia

ZAGREB -- Croatian Prime Minister Zoran Milanović says that to him, Croatian citizens of Serb nationality are "fully equal to Croatian citizens of any other nationality."

"As for the government, I think the climate is better than ever and there is greater understanding than ever, and as for the climate which some in the opposition are trying to spread, those are toxic and dangerous endeavors," said Milanović, and added:

"In doing so, they include people in this political thing who have experienced trauma and manipulate their pain."

He pointed out that "the government actively protects and will protect the rights of all minorities and all human rights and fundamental freedoms, and the citizens should watch and judge."

Speaking about relations between Croatia and Serbia, he said that "a joint future in the European Union awaits the two countries," and that Croatia would not put any "malicious obstacles" in front of Serbia on this road.

When it comes to Bosnia's European path, Milanović said the Croatia diplomatic initiative to speed up that path went without any impact so far - "because nobody in Europe has the sensibility and nobody cares about it."

"Bosnia-Herzegovina is left to its own devices and to a layer of bureaucracy in the European Commission, that should not be deciding on those issues. As long as I'm in this job, I will advocate that Bosnia-Herzegovina is taken more seriously into account, to stop the torment and the decline of the country, which, obviously, also suits somebody in Bosnia-Herzegovina."