“THE TRUTH ABOUT THE SUFFERING OF SERBS WILL NOT BE HIDDEN THIS WAY”: Serbian historian banned from entering Croatia! (PHOTO)

Serbian historian and professor at the Faculty of Philosophy in Belgrade, Miloš Ković, was today banned from entering Croatia on the grounds that he “poses a threat to public order, internal security, public health, or the international relations of one or more EU member states.” The truth about the suffering of Serbs from World War II to the present in Croatia cannot be hidden in this way, and I will continue to testify about it, the professor told an online portal.

Ković was handed the decision declaring him persona non grata in Croatia at the Batrovci border crossing while traveling to Banja Luka, where he was scheduled to participate in the promotion of the book “Tesla, I Am a Serb” by historian Branislav Stanković.

“Today, together with my colleague historian Branislav Stanković, I set off for Gradiška and Banja Luka to present his latest book ‘Tesla, I Am a Serb,’ in which he compiled all the facts about the Serbian identity of Nikola Tesla. At a time when there is an appropriation of Serbian history, and even Serbian great figures, it is clear that there is such a need. At the Croatian border crossing, after two hours of waiting due to their new technical security measures, when it was our turn, we were pulled aside and left waiting for more than half an hour without any explanation. Then they called me into the police station and handed me a decision banning my entry into the Republic of Croatia. They asked me to sign it, but I refused. I asked to first see what I was signing. When I saw that I was labeled a threat to public order, security, and health of the Republic of Croatia, I of course refused. I received the decision with a stamp stating that I refused to sign the document,” Ković explained.

He added that afterward they decided to continue toward Banja Luka via the “corridor,” that is, through Brčko, which led to the cancellation of the first promotion event in Gradiška.

Asked whether he knows the reason behind the entry ban, Ković said that the background is known to those who make decisions in that country.

“As far as I am concerned, I understand that I am just a name and surname on the blacklists of the Republic of Croatia,” the historian said.

He is convinced that the “ban” is a consequence of statements he has made in his public appearances.

“As a historian, I strive to testify to the truth. I do not claim to know the whole truth, but I strive to reach it and bear witness to it. And of course, I will not stop doing that. It seems to me that the Republic of Croatia is trying to hide certain truths, and I fear they are doing so by preventing historians from even ‘passing through.’ Because I have traveled through Croatia almost exclusively in transit. Of course, I believe that the truth cannot be hidden in this way, and I am referring to what Croatia has done to its citizens of Serbian nationality. Not only in this war that we are contemporaries of, but also in World War II, when it committed that terrible genocide against Serbs, as well as against Jews and Roma. My job is to research and testify, and I will continue to do that,” Ković said.

He added that he is surprised Croatian authorities had not imposed such a ban on him earlier.

“Considering that I am a descendant of victims of the 1941 genocide, as well as because of what I publicly say and testify,” Ković concluded.