Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic started a feud with Croatia when he compared the fate of Serbs to that of the Jews during the Holocaust in his criticism of Croatia’s marking of the wartime “Storm” military operation, which makes a visit of Croatia’s President to Belgrade unlikely at this time, foreign policy analyst Denis Avdagic told N1.

When Vucic is unable to present something big, a strong economic growth that may come later, he and his elite have to do something else and they use the same recipe they always use and that is to raise tensions with other countries, he said.  

“For Serbia, this is not a big problem, neither is it for our politicians, the only people who don’t benefit from this are businessmen on both sides,” Avdagic explained.  

The analyst said Croatia’s President and PM reacted accordingly, as there is no reason for them to abuse the situation. A radicalisation from Croatia’s side is not necessary, he said.  

Avdagic believes it would be difficult to get Croatia’s President, Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic, to visit Belgrade at this time, especially considering the presidential election. Such a visit would not benefit Vucic either, he added.  

“The beginning of next year will be a better time for these things,” he said.  

Avdagic also commented the attacks against the Independent Democratic Serb Party parliamentarian, Milorad Pupovac.  

“He is expected to represent the interests of Croatia, but as a representative of a minority, he has found himself in a tough position,” he said.  

“If I could make a suggestion to him, I think it would be better if he would turn to the citizens and leaders of Croatia, but this would require us to change our attitude toward the Serbs,” he said.  

“He had no choice but to react the way he did,” he added.