Veterans Minister: Croatia insists Serbia hand over documents on war graves

After the adoption of the law on missing persons from the Homeland War, which clearly defines the powers of all authorities in Croatia, the primary problem is the lack of cooperation by Serbia with regard to delivering documents and records on the location of graves and the relocation of bodies from primary to secondary graves. That documentation certainly exists in Serbia's archives and we insist on that, Medved said after the meeting which was held on the occasion of International Day of the Disappeared, August 30.

He underscored that locating missing persons is a top humanitarian issue and that the government is pursuing cooperation with Serbia.

Asked whether the leader of the Independent Democratic Serb Party, Milorad Pupovac, who is one of the communication channels with Serbia, had been of any use in that regard, Medved said that he had not. Asked whether he expected Pupovac to be useful considering his recent statements, Medved said he expected anyone who had any information about missing persons to share that information with the relevant authorities.

Regardless of who that may be, an ordinary citizen or an official, if anyone has any information about anyone in the Homeland War, they are obliged to share that information with the relevant authorities with the aim of finding the people who went missing during the war, Medved underlined.

Asked whether Croatia would block Serbia's EU accession negotiations if the issue of missing persons is not resolved, Medved said that Croatia very clearly defined the obstacles and conditions regarding the opening of two chapters in the negotiations.