Aleksandar Vulin

Vucic said this policy would not change - "nor does it depend on the wishes of any politician."

The encroachment of religion into Serbia's officially secular state institutions has drawn criticism after the Serbian Army command celebrated St George as its patron saint for the first time on Sunday, in the presence of Defence Minister Aleksandar Vulin.

Serbia announced on Thursday that it will not allow Croatian Defence Minister Damir Krsticevic into the country in retaliation for official Zagreb's decision to ban Serbian Defence Minister Aleksandar Vulin from Croatia.

The government made the decision in response to Croatia barring Serbian Defense Minister Aleksandar Vulin from entry on April 21.

"The government of Serbia considers these acts of Croatia to run contrary to the spirit of good neighborly cooperation and respect of core European values, that includes freedom of movement," a statement issued by the government said.

Dacic added that the visit of Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel was important because that country will now have more understanding for Serbia.

He stressed that it was therefore important to "reach everyone" - but that he does not expect that the EU will react differently now.

Speaking about Croatia's decision to prohibit Serbian Defense Minister Aleksandar Vulin from entry, Vucic said that Vulin was banned "because of the statements he made."

"I wish, and I would like it if this is not the case - someone in the European Union is introducing verbal delict and deciding arbitrarily whether they like someone's opinion," said Vucic.

One of the pilots died as he ejected from the plane, while the other was injured and was conscious when he was taken to the military clinic VMA, the Ministry of Defense announced.

The pilots worked for the Army's Flight Test Center of the Technical Test Center.

Among the defense ministers and military officials is Serbia's Aleksandar Vulin.

Vulin addressed the conference to say that the precedent done by many Western countries who recognized Kosovo, ignoring Serbia's interests, represents a great danger to peace and stability not only in the Balkans but in the whole of Europe, the Ministry of Defense said in a statement.

A Serbian military expert said the new delivery of Russian aircraft and other military equipment was a good deal for Serbia, as its equipment dates back from the time of the Yugoslav People's Army, JNA, and needs renewing.

Kosovo on Monday deported Marko Djuric, the head of Serbia's Office for Kosovo, after police arrested him in North Mitrovica for illegally entering the country.

Djuric and Serbian Defence Minister Aleksandar Vulin were banned from entering Kosovo by the Kosovo Foreign Ministry.