Security cameras are seen in front of a Serbian flag in Belgrade, Serbia, Monday, Aug. 15, 2022. Serbia has expelled a Croatian diplomat in a move that further strains relations between the two former wartime foes and Balkan rivals. The Serbian foreign ministry said on Tuesday, Nov. 21, 2023 that the first secretary of the Croatian Embassy was proclaimed persona non grata for 鈥済ross stepping outside the framework of diplomatic norms鈥� during his service. AP FILE PHOTO
BELGRADE, Serbia 鈥� Serbia and Croatia each have expelled a diplomat from the other country, a move that further strains relations between the two former wartime foes and Balkan rivals.
The Serbian Foreign Affairs Ministry said Monday that the first secretary of the Croatian Embassy in Belgrade was proclaimed persona non grata for his alleged 鈥済ross stepping outside the framework of diplomatic norms鈥� during his service.
In a reciprocal move, Croatia expelled a Serbian diplomat on Tuesday.
鈥淲e have decided that the adviser of the Embassy of Serbia in Croatia, Petar Novakovic, should be declared persona non grata in Croatia,鈥� Croatia鈥檚 Foreign Minister Gordan Grlic Radman said.
Media close to the populist Serbian government said the Croatian diplomat, identified as Hrvoje Snajder, is accused of 鈥渟pying activities鈥� and 鈥渞ecruiting鈥� of people for Croatian secret services.
The Croatian Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs rejected the grounds for the diplomat鈥檚 expulsion and called Serbia鈥檚 action 鈥渁 step toward the deterioration of mutual relations鈥� at a time 鈥渨hen the stability of southeastern Europe is of exceptional importance for the whole of Europe.鈥�
Tensions between the two Balkan neighbors have off and on been tense since the Balkan wars in the 1990s when the Serbian-led troops intervened in Croatia in a land grab operation that ended in a defeat of Belgrade and the expulsion of tens of thousands of ethnic Serbs who lived there.