Croatia sending diplomatic note to UN in Geneva over Zambian official’s remarks

The Croatian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Wednesday that it will send an official note to Zambia's permanent mission to the UN in Geneva after a Zambian government official alleged that the Croats arrested in Zambia on suspicion of child trafficking were in possession of fake adoption documents. 

The case was mentioned yesterday at a meeting of the UN Committee on Enforced Disappearances in Geneva, after which a Zambian government official, Dickson Matembo, stated that the adoption papers which the Croatian couples for the children they adopted from the Democratic Republic of Congo were fake.

The Ministry described the allegations as incorrect. In a statement the Ministry said it would explain that the Croatian citizens did not enter the Republic of Zambia from the Democratic Republic of Congo together with the children or multiple times, contrary to the claims made by Matebo.

Furthermore, the Ministry said the criminal offense with which the Croatian citizens have been charged was wrongly stated by Matebo.

The Ministry also denies there is any evidence the adoption papers held by the Croatians are fake.

"At the moment, the Republic of Croatia does not have official information from the DR Congo, nor from the Republic of Zambia, that the adoption documents from the DR Congo are not authentic,“ the statement reads.

Furthermore, the Ministry stated that Croatia would continue to protect the rights and interests of its citizens in Zambia.