Croatian Prime Minister Zoran warned he will block Serbia from joining the European Union, unless it changes a law that allows the conviction of alleged perpetrators of war crimes.
The law, passed in 2003, gives Serbia universal jurisdiction to try alleged perpetrators of war crimes and crimes against humanity committed during the 1990s conflict in the former Yugoslavia.
Mr Milanovic though fearing that the law would be use to target alleged Croatian perpetrators has rallied against it. "I think it is a matter of common sense to state right away: Serbia cannot join the EU with such a law, Croatia will not allow it," said Mr Milanovic.
However, Serbia's war crimes prosecutor, Vladimir Vukcevic, dismissed Mr Milanovic's comments, stating that universal jurisdiction laws are exercised in other countries around the world, for grave violations of international law.
"This law has been in force in Serbia for years,” said Mr Vukcevic. “It is clear that the Croatian government chose this moment for political reasons and not because there was a real need," he added, noting that Mr Milanovic's Social Democratic Party is currently falling behind in Croatia;s opinion polls.
See more here and here.
The latest clash comes after the International Court of Justice rejected claims that Serbia and Croatia committed genocide during the conflict that led to the break up of Yugoslavia in the 1990s.
See our earlier post: UN court dismisses Croatian and Serbian genocide cases (03 Feb 2015)
The law, passed in 2003, gives Serbia universal jurisdiction to try alleged perpetrators of war crimes and crimes against humanity committed during the 1990s conflict in the former Yugoslavia.
Mr Milanovic though fearing that the law would be use to target alleged Croatian perpetrators has rallied against it. "I think it is a matter of common sense to state right away: Serbia cannot join the EU with such a law, Croatia will not allow it," said Mr Milanovic.
However, Serbia's war crimes prosecutor, Vladimir Vukcevic, dismissed Mr Milanovic's comments, stating that universal jurisdiction laws are exercised in other countries around the world, for grave violations of international law.
"This law has been in force in Serbia for years,” said Mr Vukcevic. “It is clear that the Croatian government chose this moment for political reasons and not because there was a real need," he added, noting that Mr Milanovic's Social Democratic Party is currently falling behind in Croatia;s opinion polls.
See more here and here.
The latest clash comes after the International Court of Justice rejected claims that Serbia and Croatia committed genocide during the conflict that led to the break up of Yugoslavia in the 1990s.
See our earlier post: UN court dismisses Croatian and Serbian genocide cases (03 Feb 2015)