Croatia continues to repatriate its citizens from the Middle East

According to the Foreign and European Affairs Ministry the majority of Croatian citizens that were in the United Arab Emirates at the start of the Israeli-American attack on Iran - three hundred of which sought out repatriation while four hundred more were there as tourists - should now be back in Croatia.

Croatia continues to repatriate its citizens from the Middle East, with four planes arriving in Zagreb over the past 24 hours. The returning Croatian nationals were greeted by the State Secretary at the Foreign and European Affairs Ministry Frano Matušić. According to the State Secretary the repatriation of Croatian citizens was organized with every detail taken into consideration: “We clearly set out our priorities, and in that regard it was important that we adhered to those priorities. As you saw there were 34 children under the age of twelve.”

Also on hand at the airport was the head of the Prime Minister's office Zvonimir Frka Petešić: “First and foremost I would like to thank our diplomats in the consulates and embassies, as well as everyone in the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs who was involved in this process.”

Government has announced that if it is necessary it will send another three airplanes to the Emirates in the coming days.

Croatian pilgrims and tourists have also been evacuated from Israel. However, according to the Croatian ambassador to Israel, Vesela Mrđen Korač, those with dual Croatian-Israeli citizenship have for the most part decided to stay in Israel for the time being: “We have dual citizens who had requested repatriation, but they have since decided to wait until Israeli air space is re-opened, which, according to announcements, should be gradually re-opened as of this Sunday.”

Source: HRT