President Kolinda Grabar Kitarović said on Tuesday her last week's invitation for Russian President Putin to visit Croatia still stands, in spite of Croatia's decision on Monday to join 13 other countries in expelling Russian diplomats over the Salisbury nerve gas attack.

“The invitation stands. We will continue developing our relations. On the one hand we must insist on respecting international law, and on the other hand (we must) continue talking. Arguments can only be solved through dialogue, not conflict,” Grabar-Kitarović told reporters in the central Croatian city of Karlovac, where she had temporarily relocated her office to.

“Croatia has common economic and security interests (with Russia) in terms of international terrorism. Russia is certainly a key player in Southeast Europe and is a member of the Peace Implementation Council,” Grabar-Kitarović added.

The Peace Implementation Council (PIC) is an international body which oversees the implementation of the Dayton Agreement and its provisions in Bosnia and Herzegovina.