PM warns Croatia could face Serbia's "legal measures"

PM warns Croatia could face Serbia's "legal measures"

"By shutting down freight traffic Croatia is behaving irresponsibly, and if this lasts, we will have to introduce countermeasures that will hit Croatia harder than they will hit us," the prime minister stressed.

He also announced that his cabinet would meet on Tuesday at 14:30 CET on the occasion of Croatia's decision to close its border with Serbia - amid the crisis created by the influx of migrants and refugees from third countries.

The state broadcaster RTS said late on Monday that it was "expected that all ministries would prepare measures to protect the state territory, national and economic interest, and a serious answer to the Croatian government's policy."

"I am pleading with the Croatian authorities, not because we're weak and they're so strong, but (to them) as neighbors, friends, EU members, to withdraw their irresponsible decision that they themselves don't know what it's based on. Otherwise, due to violations of numerous bilateral and international agreements, we will be forced to seek legal protection for our country," said Vucic.

The prime minister criticized Croatian authorities for "facing the wave of migrants for only four, five days, and already irresponsible decision and statements are coming out of that country every day."

"Our country," Vucic continued, "has been faced with a wave of refugees for several months without making irresponsible statements or ever shutting down traffic."

"We allow all trucks coming from Croatia through, they don't allow a single one from Serbia to enter Croatia. Our patience won't last forever," said he.

Vucic then "pleaded with the EU to get serious and warn its member-state not to behave like this, because it is not only anti-European behavior, but also against all norms of civilization."

According to him, when Hungarians earlier shut down their border with Serbia they were "fair and closed it on both sides, so they too suffered damages."

"Do they (Croatia) think we will let through everything, while they won't even pick up the phone and explain what this is all about. Do you think we are impressed by Croatia and its power and strength," asked the prime minister, and added that Serbia "must protect its state interests."

"Something so stupid"

As for the interpretation by a European Commission spokesperson earlier in the day that Serbia's readmission agreement with the EU means the country must accept the return of not only its own citizens that have been denied asylum in the EU - but also of citizens of third countries that transited through Serbia on their way to the EU - Vucic said that "those who canceled Schengen and Dublin (agreements) would now like to shift the full weight of the refugee crisis onto Serbia."

He said he "did not want to comment in more detail" on a statement made by EC spokesperson Natasha Berto , but added, "Serbia is not in jeopardy."

The prime minister then asked reporters "who is spokeswoman Natasha Berto," and whether she "came up with it all by herself - or did somebody tell her that."

"It seems to me she came up with it herself - she could hardly come up with something so stupid herself," said Vucic.