Croatia's PEN International Centre on Monday protested against the recent adoption of the Cultural Heritage Act by Serbia, which lays claim to literature from the southern Croatian city of Dubrovnik in the period until 1867, describing the law as unfounded and unacceptable.

“Croatia’s International PEN Centre protests against Serbia’s Cultural Heritage Act which lays claim to all of Dubrovnik’s literature until 1867. The provisions under which literature from Dubrovnik belongs equally to both Serbian and Croatian culture are unfounded and unacceptable, as is the constant laying of claim to Croatia’s cultural heritage and space,” the centre said in a statement.

On Monday, Croatian Culture Minister Nina Obuljen-Korzinek also criticised the new law, calling it scandalous and “complete nonsense.”

“This is mythomania, this need to usurp Croatian cultural heritage, notably literature from Dubrovnik. That is unacceptable and professionally unfounded,” Obuljen-Korzinek said, adding that the embassy had already been contacted and that Croatia will issue a reaction through the Foreign Ministry.