President Milanović Attends Opening of New Primary School in Koprivnica

The President of the Republic Zoran Milanović attended today the opening of the new Podolice Primary School in Koprivnica, where he told the town residents that he hoped the school would still be full of children thirty years from now, with “up to 500 children, because more than that is not needed, it breaks the standard, and less is not good. My wish is that in thirty years this school will be equally full,” President Milanović said in his address at the opening ceremony.

The President’s ties with the town of Koprivnica stem to a large extent from the area of education. “Fifteen years ago, we visited the newly constructed and opened high school, built on the principle of public-private partnership. The most wonderful thing that happened in my public and political life related to Koprivnica is the University in Koprivnica,” said President Milanović, pointing out that University North is officially the result of efforts of his Government, but also the persistence of many locals. “I hope the University is doing well and that it is benefiting the town, the community and that it is opening Koprivnica to Croatia. I know this is happening,” he added.

Commenting on the laying of a time capsule in the primary school foundation, which he witnessed last year at a ceremony held to mark the start of construction of the new school, President Milanović expressed the hope that thirty years from now the European Union will still exist and Croatia will be among the most developed and richest countries.

“When you open the time capsule in thirty years, I hope that the European Union will still exist, that in that European Union, we and Koprivnica above all will not be those who will be the beneficiaries of various recovery funds and occasional alms and aid programs, but those who will give, who will be among the most developed and richest. Because, as you know, there is no tourism and no easy money here; it is hard to make money here. And that Koprivnica, a small but resilient town, will continue to be a front runner, as it was in agriculture and industry, and now in academic life,” said President Milanović.

Speaking at the school opening ceremony apart from President Milanović were the Mayor of Koprivnica Mišel Jakšić and Koprivnica-Križevci County Prefect Darko Koren. Adviser to the President of the Republic for Education Jadranka Žarković was with President Milanović.

PHOTO: Office of the President of the Republic of Croatia / Ana Marija Katić