Croatia Bans Three Montenegrin Officials Amid Dispute

Croatia has declared three Montenegrin officials, including Deputy Prime Minister Aleksa Becic, parliament speaker Andrija Mandic, and lawmaker Milan Knezevic, as persona non grata due to their roles in passing a resolution that labeled the Jasenovac concentration camp as a site of genocide during World War II. This diplomatic spat arises from a perceived threat to good neighborly relations, with Croatia condemning the Montenegrin declaration as 'unacceptable and unnecessary'. The Jasenovac camp, operated by the Nazi-allied Ustasha regime, is estimated to have seen the deaths of around 100,000 people, including ethnic Serbs, Jews, and anti-fascist Croats. The tensions have been exacerbated by Montenegro's recent support of a UN resolution recognizing the Srebrenica genocide, which has angered Serbia, influencing local sentiments in Montenegro. Croatian officials argue that the resolution exploits historical victimhood for political gain rather than fostering remembrance. The legacy of World War II remains a contentious issue in the Balkans, often complicating regional diplomacy and ties.