Croatian Foreign Affairs and European Integration Minister Gordan Jandrokovic told the press ahead of the opening of the summit that Jeremic would not come due to protocolar reasons.
Jandrokovic explained that Jeremic had insisted on addressing the summit at the opening, a possibility which Croatia, the summit's host, rejected and offered him to hold a speech at one of panel discussion on Friday.
Given that speakers opening the summit are all high ranking officials, there was no room for Jeremic, according to the Croatian minister.
The welcoming and opening speeches were delivered by Croatian Prime Minister Jadranka Kosor, Parliament Speaker Luka Bebic, Hungarian Prime Minister Gordon Bajnai, Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt and US Deputy Secretary of State James Steinberg.