EU spokesman condemns incident in Serbian parliament

AFP/Philippe Huguen | AFP/Philippe Huguen

European Commission spokesman Carlos Martin Ruiz de Gordejuela on Tuesday condemned the incident claimed by ultra-nationalists in the Serbian Parliament as something that does not belong in a democratic institution.

Ultra-nationalist MP and leader of the Serbian Radical Party (SRS) Vojislav Seselj claims to have ripped up and trampled a Croatian flag and used offensive language to members of a Croatian parliamentary delegation.

“What we saw yesterday does not belong to democratic institution, it is actually disrespectful of a democratic institution representing citizens and all those who work on good neighbour relations, regional cooperation and reconciliation,” Ruiz de Gordejuela told a regular news briefing in Brussels on Thursday.

Ruiz de Gordejuela refused to comment when asked about the fact that Seselj, who was convicted for war crimes by a UN tribunal, continues to sit in parliament. “On this I have nothing more to say,” he said.

Teme