Croatia has declared three top Montenegrin government officials persona non grata following a diplomatic dispute over the Jasenovac death camp operated by the pro-Nazi Croatian government during World War II. The ban comes after Montenegrin lawmakers passed a resolution recognizing the genocide committed at Jasenovac, where an estimated 100,000 people were killed between 1941 and 1945 by the Ustasha regime.
The Croatian Ministry of Foreign Affairs cited the officials’ “systematic actions to disrupt good neighbourly relations” as the reason for the ban. Croatia described the Montenegrin declaration as “unacceptable” and accused the officials of exploiting the memory of the victims of Jasenovac for political gain.
The legacy of World War II remains a sensitive issue in the Balkans, with Croatia facing criticism for its growing tolerance of its pro-Nazi past. The dispute over Jasenovac has further strained relations between the two countries, with Montenegro also recently supporting a UN resolution commemorating the Srebrenica genocide, a move that angered Serbia.
Montenegro, which is seeking EU membership after joining NATO in 2017, recently reshuffled its government to include pro-Serb and pro-Russia parties, drawing concerns from the US. The ban on the Montenegrin officials by Croatia highlights the ongoing tensions and complexities in the region, where historical grievances and political affiliations continue to shape diplomatic relations.
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