President Milanović in Novigrad Podravski: Croatia has only one flag, no need to wave others’

“Preserving the way of life here in small communities and villages is something worth fighting for. Of course, we will not disappear as a nation, but we must be aware of the demographic problem, which is real. And there is a solution to that problem. It is the preservation of a rural but modern way of life. Everything you are building in Novigrad and what you are planning to build will contribute to people staying, providing them with the comfort, safety, and amenities they would otherwise automatically seek in larger cities,” the President of the Republic Zoran Milanović said on Monday at a special session of the Novigrad Podravski Municipal Council.

He told the leadership of the Municipality to use European funds as much as possible because it is money that will be available for a limited time. Regarding the European Union, he said that it represents Croatia’s achievement and is beneficial as long as it serves our interests. “To be loyal and honest in our relationship with others, to play by the rules, to ensure that the rules are made with our input and that our interests, rights, and needs are protected. But using that money to the last euro – that should be the goal. You can’t use everything, and every unused euro should be seen as a slight failure to utilize available resources,” he said.

In this sense, he particularly emphasized the importance of using European funds for rural development, or as he put it, “rural survival, survival of the way of life.” He stated that Croatia is a low-urbanized country because less than 60 percent of people live in urban areas. He compared Croatia with other European countries, noting that we are a country of small settlements, especially in northern Croatia. “People traditionally live in small communities, and this is the kind of life we have that must somehow survive,” President Milanović pointed out.

He said that in the last sixty to seventy years, significant headway has been made in the development of this region and a lot has changed. It is up to our generation to continue in that direction, said the President. “Let us ensure that the White House is not ‘Dudekova hiža’ (‘Dudek’s House’), and thank God it is not, just as ‘Dudekova hiža’ is not and will never be the White House,” said President Milanović, referring to his recent stay in the United States and the ‘Dudekova hiža’ project planned in Novigrad Podravski.

Speaking about his stay in the U.S., he also commented on the situation after the assassination attempt on Donald Trump. “Where I came from, the temperature is even higher than here, the air humidity is even higher, but it doesn’t rain; instead, there is a rain of bullets. And in general, the whole atmosphere ‘reeks’ of something dangerous and of war, both in Europe and outside Europe. In this commotion, Croatia – in accordance with the wiser habits and messages of our political predecessors – should stay on the sidelines, not take the lead, not wave a flag, especially not someone else’s. We have only one flag and only one coat of arms. To be one’s own boss, to look after one’s own interests, and to be as fair and honest as possible towards others, be it East or West. We cannot change the world. It is important that in the event of some trouble or disaster, the trouble does not befall us. This is the task of every generation of Croatian politicians, especially today. Whoever does not see this does not see well, because they are selfishly focused on some specific, personal interests,” President Milanović concluded.

Also speaking at the special session, in addition to President Milanović, were Zlatko Makar, President of the Novigrad Podravski Municipal Council; Zdravko Brljek, Head of the Municipality of Novigrad Podravski; Mišel Jakšić, Mayor of Koprivnica and member of the Croatian Parliament; and Darko Koren, Koprivnica-Križevci County Prefect and delegate of the Prime Minister.

President Milanović was accompanied by Melita Mulić, Adviser to the President of the Republic for Human Rights and Civil Society.

FOTO: Ured predsjednika Republike Hrvatske / Marko Beljan