Croatia Expels Serbian Embassy Advisor in Response to Diplomat's Deportation
Today, the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of Croatia responded to the expulsion of a Croatian diplomat from Serbia by reciprocally expelling Serbian Embassy advisor Petar Novaković and declaring him persona non grata. This announcement was made in a statement by the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of Croatia.
Croatia delivered a note to the Embassy of the Republic of Serbia in the Republic of Croatia, citing the decision based on the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, following Serbia's expulsion of a Croatian diplomat on November 20, 2023.
"According to the note from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Serbia dated November 20, 2023, and in accordance with Article 9 of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, it has been decided that the advisor of the Embassy of the Republic of Serbia in Zagreb, Mr. Petar Novaković, is declared persona non grata on the territory of the Republic of Croatia," stated the announcement.
On the preceding Monday, Serbia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs declared Hrvoje Schneider, the first secretary of the Croatian embassy in Serbia, an undesirable person, alleging that he had "grossly exceeded diplomatic norms."
Belgrade media labelled Schneider a spy, citing documented espionage and recruitment for work on behalf of the Croatian service. This action was seen as a violation of the Vienna Convention regulating diplomatic and consular relations, leading to his designation as persona non grata, as reported by pro-government "Večernje novosti."
Croatia's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Gordan Grlić Radman, stated on Tuesday that Croatia rejects the grounds for expelling the Croatian diplomat and responds in kind. He added that Serbia's decision is a step toward worsening mutual relations and further destabilizing the sensitive regional political and security situation.
Recalling Croatia's quest for sovereignty within the Yugoslav Confederation or full independence after World War II, tensions arose as Serbs sought to maintain Yugoslavia through armed means.
Despite this, Croatia achieved independence in the 1991-1995 war, known as Domovinski rat or the Homeland War, subsequently joining the EU and NATO.
Iceland first recognized Croatia in December 1991, with key EU countries and the USA following suit in January 1992.