The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Serbia has declared Hrvoje Šnajder, the first secretary at the Croatian Embassy in Serbia, persona non grata. According to the ministry, he had “roughly stepped out of the diplomatic framework.” In response, the Croatian government expressed regret over this decision and rejected the grounds for expelling an accredited diplomat.
The Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs is concerned that this decision represents a step towards deterioration of mutual relations and destabilization of sensitive regional political and security situations. They believe that it places additional pressure on employees of the Croatian embassy in Belgrade, especially during the pre-election period in Serbia. In response to this move, the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs reserves the right to respond at its discretion and time.
The statement from the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs expressed concern about the impact this decision will have on stability in South-Eastern Europe. The Croatian government believes that this move threatens international law and undermines efforts for peaceful resolution of conflicts in the region.