Croatia told to "eat humble pie, be quiet about minorities"

Croatia told to "eat humble pie, be quiet about minorities"

The president also told reporters on Friday that he "sees no desire in Serbia to in any way start any kind of conflict with Croatia - but there are limits."

"Even water shows resistance when it's pressured, let alone a people like the Serb people," said Nikolic, adding that those who want to treat Serbia "nicely" would be treated "even nicer" - but told "those who no longer want that" that his country "perhaps won't respond in an ugly manner, but don't expect any particularly good cooperation."

According to the president, the EU is now being put to the test, while the Serbian government "does excellent work and had prepared fully to open the chapters."

"Is Croatia carrying out what it wants, or is it used to justify EU's enlargement fatigue - we will see that very quickly, because I find it hard to believe that 27 (EU member) states cannot tell one that it's impossible for 27 states to be on one side, and only one on the other, and that precisely that one is in the right, and that this is respected so much," said Nikolic.

He thinks that "EU's true intentions will become evident" but that "Serbia will never give up on the EU because its goal and desire is better life and EU membership."

"It's up to the EU to say whether they really want us over there, since it's become quite clear that the demand related to Kosovo's independence could not pass, then it seems to me (Serbia's) EU entry is being prolonged in this way as states who themselves have not solved some issues well criticize us," Nikolic said.