Croatian minister responds to Serbia's threats: The time when Belgrade was questioned is over, we have Kosovo as a friend

Croatian Defense Minister Ivan Anusic has responded to the reaction of the Serbian Foreign Ministry, which announced that Serbia "will not silently accept" the signing of the declaration that strengthens trilateral cooperation in the field of defense between Croatia, Kosovo and Albania.

The three countries signed a declaration in Tirana on March 18, through which the countries commit to strengthening cooperation in the field of defense and security, a development that has prompted reactions in Serbia, which described it as an "open provocation" directed at Belgrade.

The Croatian Defense Minister responded to Belgrade's reaction, saying that it is time for neighboring Serbia to decide what Croatia will do.

"The time has passed when Croatia asked Belgrade what it would do and how it would function. That time is long behind us and will never happen again. Croatia has been an independent and sovereign state for 35 years, having gone through five years of aggression from the very same Belgrade policy that communicates what it communicates," the Croatian minister said, reports Dnevnik.hr, the Telegraph reports.

Croatia, according to him, will sign memoranda with its partners and allies.

"Albania is our ally in NATO, and Kosovo is our friendly country that we have recognized. Several other countries will join our memorandum. Not a single letter in that document mentions Serbia, any aggression or any activity that will endanger anyone, including Serbia," Anusic claimed.

Croatia, he added, wants to cooperate with other countries and exchange knowledge with them.

"This is exactly what we will do and work with Albania and Kosovo – to eliminate the cyberwarfare, which Croatia has been exposed to for five or six years now, just like Albania and Kosovo. We will work together to prevent all these threats that are happening on the territory of our three countries. This is the essence and Croatia will certainly not ask Belgrade what it will do," he concluded.

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Serbian authorities previously announced that Serbia was ready to consider cooperation in good faith with Croatia and Albania.

"However, this initiative, which is being implemented without Serbia, but with Kosovo, represents an open provocation and a gross disregard for the reality on the ground. We expect an urgent response from Zagreb and Tirana on the real goals and ultimate objectives of this dangerous military-security game. Serbia will not allow any unilateral action that could jeopardize the security of Serbia's territory," the Serbian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.

Read too The military alliance between Kosovo, Albania and Croatia irritates Serbia, it will seek clarification from Tirana and Zagreb

Kosovo's Minister of Defense, Ejup Makedonci, who signed the declaration of cooperation together with his Albanian counterpart, Pirro Vengu, and his Croatian counterpart, Ivan Anusic, said that the three signatory countries are committed to advancing cooperation.

"Based on our shared values, the same geostrategic orientations and mutual commitments to regional cooperation, Albania, Croatia and Kosovo are committed to strengthening cooperation and advancing steps to protect our territories and peoples, to contribute to international peace and security, as well as to the development of the defense industry," said the Macedonian after signing the declaration.

According to him, the three countries will work to increase interoperability between their militaries through education, training and joint exercises, will engage in combating hybrid threats, and will coordinate policies for Euro-Atlantic integration.

"This cooperation is not a threat to anyone, but an additional commitment to maintaining regional peace and stability in the Western Balkans. Together with Albania and Croatia, Kosovo is stronger, the region safer and the peace more sustainable," said the Macedonian.

Albanian Minister of Defense, Pirro Vengu, described the declaration as an important step towards strengthening defense capabilities, developing defense industry and technology, and improving military interoperability in the region.

"Albania and Croatia will continue to support Kosovo in its aspiration for full integration into regional and Euro-Atlantic structures," he wrote in X.

Albania and Croatia are member countries of NATO, an organization where Kosovo aims to one day join. /Telegrafi/