Croatian politicians condemned remarks by Banja Luka Mayor Draško Stanivuković referencing the self-proclaimed Republic of Serbian Krajina and “Serbian lands” during a Saint Sava event in Gračac, calling them provocative and an affront to Croatian sovereignty.
Speaking at a Saint Sava Academy in Gračac, Stanivuković, a 33-year-old mayor born after the Croatian War of Independence, urged residents to remember “the heavy days of Operation Storm and Operation Flash” and said that the land “belongs to us,” a statement widely interpreted in Croatia as promoting Greater Serbian nationalism.
“Let every child born today in Banja Luka never forget the Republic of Serbian Krajina, never forget Operation Storm, and the hardships our people endured,” Stanivuković said. He added that citizens of Republika Srpska “think a lot about these regions, towns, and municipalities” and expressed support for the local Serbian community and church.
Goran Đekić, mayor of Gračac and a member of Croatia’s SDSS party representing the Serbian minority, criticized the comments, saying they harmed rather than helped the local Serbian community. “Statements like this are reckless and unnecessary. We need to focus on development, agriculture, and progress, not on events from 30 years ago,” Đekić said.
The remarks also drew criticism from Croatia’s national parliament. Lawmaker Miro Bulj called for a ban on Stanivuković entering Croatia, while Nikola Grmoja, leader of the Most party, demanded an immediate response from the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs and labeled the Banja Luka mayor “persona non grata.”
Historian Hrvoje Klasić described Stanivuković’s comments as “ignorant of history” and a denial of Croatian statehood. Klasić noted that the so-called Republic of Serbian Krajina was established through the rebellion of parts of the Serbian population against Croatia’s democratically elected government and was marked by ethnic cleansing and violence against non-Serb civilians.
“The Republic of Serbian Krajina no longer exists, and Serbs in Croatia today live under far better conditions than during that period. Statements like Stanivuković’s are not only politically irresponsible but also create unnecessary diplomatic tension,” Klasić said.
Croatian officials have yet to announce whether they will take formal diplomatic action against Stanivuković. Calls for an entry ban highlight sensitivities around regional history and ongoing concerns over nationalist rhetoric in the Balkans.