The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration expressed regret on Tuesday (August11th) over an incident last week involving Oscar-winning Czech film director Jiri Menzel, spokesman Mario Dragun said on its website.

The ministry said it believed that the incident would not affect "the traditionally excellent and friendly relations between Croatia and the Czech Republic," Dragun said.

Menzel was attacked while working on a documentary called "My Croatia" for the Croatian National Television (HRT) in Dubrovnik. The owner of the restaurant outside which the shooting was taking place opposed the filming since the camera covered the restaurant’s signboard name. The man allegedly first called the film-makers names, though Menzel tried to persuade him that it would take only a couple of minutes. The squabble escalated with the owner's son attacking Menzel. No one has been injured in the incident.

Dragun made assurances that the incident was a very rare event. He said that Czech and other foreign tourists were welcomed in Croatia and are not in any danger whatsoever. According to Croatian media, Dragun was thus reacting to the appeals by some Czech media that Czechs do not travel to Croatia.

Menzel, 71, who won an Oscar for Closely Watched Trains (1966), the adaptation of a novel by famous Czech writer Bohumil Hrabal, often works as a theatre director in Croatia as well.

His latest film I Served the King of England, based on another novel by Hrabal, was premiered at the end of 2006. Since then it has scored success at various film festivals.

Dragun pointed out although Menzel did not report the incident to the Croatian police, they had nevertheless questioned the restaurant owner.