In a reciprocal move following Zagreb’s declaration of Serbia’s Defence Minister a persona non grata, the government in Belgrade said in a statement on Thursday it would ban Aleksandar Vulin’s Croatian counterpart Damir Krsticevic.

A tit-for-tat action have occupied Serbia’s authorities for days, and potential bans were considered for several Croatian officials, including Minister for Foreign and European Affairs and Tomo Medved, Croatian Veteran’s Affairs Minister.

The government statement added that Serbia remained committed to preserving peace and stability in the region as well as to honouring the European principles and values in the best interest of Serbia’s and regional citizens.

A source close to Serbia’s Government told Blic daily that Belgrade exercised “the full reciprocity.”

“They banned our Defence Minister we banned theirs,” the source said.

The source added Krsticevic, also a deputy prime minster, was chosen “because ahead of (Serbia’s President Aleksandar) Vucic’s to Croatia, he said Vucic should apologised for Serbia’s aggression on Croatia.”

The daily quoted the source as adding that Krsticevic was “one of the two Croatian ministers who attended a memorial service for a convicted war criminal Slobodan Praljak,” as another reason for the ban.

“Minister Vulin and I belong to two different worlds. I am focused on developing and strengthening the Croatian armed forces, and improving the security system in the interest of Croatia,’ Krsticevic told N1.

http://hr.n1info.com/a297694/English/NEWS/Krsticevic-Serbia-s-decision-to-ban-me-is-unjustified.html

“Krsticevic is completely right, we are two different worlds. I belong to the world of anti-fascism, I am an anti-fascist,” Vulin responded later in the day.

The move is feared to kick off new measures and counter measures from both Zagreb and Belgrade. Media are already speculating about the ambassadors being called for consultations and alike.