22.04.2018.
Minister Vulin: Croatia feels that Serbia is telling the truth
“The Croatian authorities are bothered that Serbia is telling the truth, they are bothered by Serbs who are telling the truth”, Defence Minister Aleksandar Vulin said as he was a guest at a show on the Serbian Broadcasting Company, commenting on the statement made by the Croatian Foreign Ministry that he was not welcome to Croatia until further notice, adding that Serbia would react to it as a state and it will be soon.
They are bothered by my statements about Stepinac, Jasenovac, they are bothered as I recall to what extent the Serbs were discriminated against and that they did not pay their pensions or reckonable service, that they are not returning their property to them. This is only a cause. It is interesting that they did not bother that I said in the same sentence: “this is something that me or the supreme commander of the Armed Forces are to decide on...” Only he can tell me: “do not to go on that trip”. The procedure is simple, when the Minister of Defence travels anywhere, especially when this trip can have political weight, he is obliged to consult the supreme commander. Just as I, as the Minister of Defence, have to give permission to any member of the armed forces when they leave our country to go on an official trip.. I thought that freedom of movement in Europe was guaranteed, that everyone could travel if he did not commit a crime. They just looked for a cause. They are bothered by Vučić, they are bothered by his name, they are bothered by the fact that he is the supreme commander. They are bothered by Serbia that speaks, and they are bothered by the Serbs who speak. That is their biggest problem. Why didn't they proclaim the Slovenian Prime Minister as persona non grata when he told them that if they do not agree peacefully on the borders, they will agree on that using the armed forces and that the Slovenian army is ready to enforce the decision of the arbitral tribunal. Why they did not put ban to the Slovenian defence minister who obviously stood behind that decision”, Minister Vulin said.
“Countries that have such deep complexes when it comes to Serbia and the Serbian people usually perceive themselves to be a state using force. A few days earlier, before anyone even talked about my visit to Mlaka, which was not announced, but it was private, not to Jasenovac, while the Croatian Government was laying wreaths in Jasenovac without Serbs, Jews and Roma, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Prime Minister, the head of the HDZ in the Assembly, the head of the ruling majority in Croatia, said that my statements, not specifying which of them, are very dangerous. After that, we were informed and journalists talked about the fact that inside the ruling coalition they are preparing a ban on my arrival.
I wanted to be with my people in a reconstructed church in Mlaka, where the Ustashas gathered children from Podkozarje to take them to slaughter in Jasenovac, and not with the Croatian government, which was boycotted by all Serbs, Jews and Roma because they allowed the unpunished revival of Ustasha movement”, the Minister of Defence said.
Asked about the direction in which the relations between Serbia and Croatia could go, and what might be the reaction of President Vučić, Minister Vulin said that the Serbian side is always trying to make the relations good.
“As far as I know Vučić, and I know him well, Serbia will react to this provocative state, just as a sovereign, safe and stable state should react and it can be expected soon. This is all Croatia's attempt to silence someone who speaks the truth, and the most terrible truth about Jasenovac is not only what happened, but the fact that the present Croatia would not even repent. Let us stop with that habit that was created for Serbs in the last 50 or 100 years that we always think that we are spoiling something with our behavior and that we it would be most helpful if we did not remind those around us of what they did to us Excuse me, I do not agree to be part of that choir. I will tell the truth as it is. Germany said that they were repentant of the crimes of the Second World War. Germany does not come to Mauthausen to lay wreaths at the graves of the shot SS guards, and Croatia did it in Bleiburg. It is very difficult to go to Jasenovac, to the cemetery for slaughtered children and then go to Bleiburg to lay a wreath at the cemetery for the slaughterers of the same children. As long as they do not comprehend that it is not possible how can you stand not to remind them of that. It would be best if they finished it themselves. Why would they tell me about it? All this reminder hurts us. It would be best not to talk about it, but in order for that to happen, one must say: “We repent, we will not lay wreaths on the graves of the Ustashas in Bleiburg any more”. Germany has done so and that is why it can cooperate with France and Great Britain, so Europe can live in peace. Why could not Croatia do it? Instead, let us expel Vulin, let us not allow him come today, there will not be anyone to talk about crimes in Jasenovac. They will always speak and I will speak, too”, Minister Vulin emphasised.
He also added that the Croatian authorities took his saying that the hatred with which Vučić was received in Zagreb is a black spot on the face of Croatia amiss.
“Well, is not it so?” I will remind you that he was received by the Ustashas who waved their flags and set fire to the Serbian flags, who insulted him in the most brutal manner. The Croatian officials then said: We cannot and will not prevent democratic life in Croatia. The Serbian side is always trying to keep good relations. What Aleksandar Vučić endured, Jandroković would not want to endure in any way. In contrast to Vučić, Jandroković did not want to endure any provocation, but he immediately finished the visit, as if he had waited for that occasion.”
