President Milanović in Imotski: Croatia must not stay silent over threats of the Bosniak political leadership
“All my life I have been on the side of those who are weaker or those whom I perhaps mistakenly saw as weaker, even on the side of the Bosniak Muslims of Bosnia and Herzegovina. However, Croatia must not stay silent in the face of verbal abuse and threats of physical violence coming from their political leadership – which I always separate from the people,” the President of the Republic Zoran Milanović said today in the town of Imotski, where he attended the 31st anniversary ceremony commemorating the formation of the 115th Croatian Army Brigade of Imotski.
“At the moment, I see the attitude towards the Croats in Bosnia and Herzegovina as the biggest acute problem, and this acuteness threatens to become chronic. That is happening here, in this space of one people and two countries. The oppression that is currently, more than ever in the last few years, being carried out against the Croats, on their political status, pride, their constituent group status, is unprecedented. That’s dishonesty,” said President Milanović, stressing that Croatia has peaceful instruments to resolve this.
“If you ask us, all of this will stay at the lip-service level. But even words, if they are irresponsible, can do harm. Be careful what you think and what comes to your mind – this is the foundation of many religious upbringings, Christian, Catholic and Islamic, because a bad thought is easily transformed into a bad word, a bad word into a bad deed, a bad deed into a bad habit, and a bad habit into a bad life, history and a bad reputation,” said President Milanović, adding that the injustice that is being done to the Croats in Bosnia and Herzegovina should be warned against by verbal means and persuasion through state instruments, and by way of their status. Due to the conduct of the Bosniak political leadership towards the Croats, President Milanović called on Bakir Izetbegović to return to Croatia the Grand Order that was awarded to his father, Alija Izetbegović, by Croatian President Franjo Tuđman.
Addressing the defenders of the Imotski area, the President of the Republic reminded that “Croatia has achieved a lot in these 30 years.” “Other countries in Europe were created, but only Croatia arose from the war and there isn’t anything that this country should not be proud of, or be ashamed of. Our path was honourable. Hats off to you for what you have done for Croatia. In the end, it all comes down to a few good people. May God protect you,” President Milanović told the defenders of the Imotski area, concluding his address.
Participating in the 115th Croatian Army Brigade of Imotski 31st anniversary ceremony apart from the President of the Republic were the President of the Association of Croatian Homeland War Defenders of the 115th Croatian Army Brigade of Imotski Nenad Puljiz, Vice President of the Association of Families of Fallen Defenders of Split-Dalmatia County (on behalf of the families of fallen Croatian defenders) Milan Rimac, Mayor of Imotski Ivan Budalić, envoy of the Split-Dalmatia County Prefect Damir Gabrić, and State Secretary in the Ministry of Croatian Veterans’ Affairs and envoy of the Croatian Prime Minister and the Minister of Croatian Veterans’ Affairs Špiro Janović.
The 115th Croatian Army Brigade of Imotski was formed in 1991. During the Homeland War, it participated in combat operations mostly on the southern battlefields near the area of Dubrovnik. Some 3,900 members, coming mostly from the town of Imotski, passed through the ranks of the 115th Croatian Army Brigade.
Special Adviser to the President of the Republic for Homeland War Veterans Marijan Mareković was alongside President Milanović at the ceremony.
PHOTO: Office of the President of the Republic of Croatia/ Marko Beljan