Croatia News - CroatiaPress.com

Zagreb, March 2 (CP) – Speaking to Banja Luka’s Nezavisne Novine paper, deputy PM Slobodan Uzelac said that the time had not yet come for Croatia to recognize Kosovo.

Uzelac said in an interview that bad judgement on the issue could hurt relations between Croatia and Serbia.

Speaking about the status of Serbs in Croatia, Uzelac said that neither he personally, nor the Independent Democratic Serbian Party (SDSS), who he is a member of were satisfied with the rhythm of return of returnees, as jobs as well as acceptable living conditions were lacking.

Slobodan Uzelac is a SDSS member who has been posted to deputy PM position in charge of regional development, reconstruction and return following the forming of the government in line with the results of the last parliamentary elections held in November 2007.

Uzelac holds the highest position that a representative of the Serb minority has held in Croatia since 1991 and this has been seen by the Western politicians as a step towards reconciliation of the two nations and also a step in the right direction in Croatia’s efforts to join the EU.