President Milanović at Ceremony Marking Jelsa Municipality Day and Feast of the Assumption

The President of the Republic Zoran Milanović attended tonight a special session of the Municipality of Jelsa Municipal Council that was held on the occasion of Municipality Day and the Feast of the Assumption.

“A small country, with many islands! Small islands, which are all similar, yet all are different. Each one is special in its own way” – this is how President Milanović described his perception of Croatian islands in his speech at the special session. He compared the island of Hvar with other islands, pointing out their similarities. “On all these islands of ours, which are long, relatively elevated and protruding from the sea, there is some path for one to embark on from some place, through a wasteland, through rocky terrain,” he said.

Describing the unique aspects of the island of Hvar, President Milanović explained that “all of its described, physical and school-taught history is concentrated on the western part of the island. Everything is there, from the classical age and the pre-classical age to the bronze age, the middle ages and the modern era. And when you head east, you are on a path of endlessness and you come to a place where there is the sea and where there was nothing a few hundred years ago. Jelsa, Humac, Poljica and finally Sućuraj are among such places,” he added.

President Milanović recalled his bicycle tours around Hvar and reminisced about his meeting and conversation with one island dweller, whom he ran upon on the old road to Poljica, after exiting the newly built roadway. “That was that endless path, which I recall with longing, because soon it won’t be there anymore. It will all be a new road. Soon there will be no micro-environment on our islands,” he said, explaining that the man he ran upon that day did not even recognize him because he is only familiar with his local milieu.

Speaking at the special session apart from President Milanović were the President of the Jelsa Municipal Council Jure Gurdulić, Head of the Municipality Nikša Peronja, and Minister of Health and delegate of the Croatian Prime Minister Vili Beroš. Public recognitions and awards were presented to the most deserving individuals and organizations on the occasion of Municipality Day.

President Milanović was accompanied by the Adviser to the President of the Republic for Education Jadranka Žarković. 

PHOTO: Office of the President of the Republic of Croatia / Filip Glas