Serbian officials accuse EP delegation of disrespect

Ragus said the authorities only agreed to the meeting because the EP delegation had viewed the Jasenovac exhibition earlier in the day. She added that the EP delegation was late to the meeting with government representatives, and that the meeting was also cut short, Danas reported.

Addressing a press conference in the parliament lobby, Raguc said the government met the delegation in a “protest tone” because the EP “fact-finding” mission was unwilling to hear the facts the authorities intended to present. She added that the delegation had arrived in Serbia with their verdict already decided.

The deputy speaker also said that MEP Tonino Picula is a poor choice as the European Parliament’s Rapporteur for Serbia because he is not impartial, and cited his support for Serbian opposition movements and his past celebrations of the Croatian military-police Operation Storm.

Addressing domestic political tensions, Ragus focused on “attacks on Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) offices and unannounced protests” over the past year. She said that supporters of the ruling Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) are victims of political discrimination.

Ragus added that the government had urged the mission to adopt a more balanced stance, while adding that the authorities are aware they are out of favor with Europe due to their refusal to recognize Kosovo’s independence.