President Milanović: Life is peaceful here and if we keep it like that, we have done everything
“Life is carefree and peaceful here. If we keep it like that, we have done everything”, the President of the Republic Zoran Milanović stated today, and warned that “the times we live in and the events around us are terribly complex, never more complex”. Talking about the situation in the world, he said that in such situations “we should turn to ourselves, mind our business and our money, and see ways how to deserve that money”. The President attended a special session of the Municipal Council of the Municipality of Sveti Martin na Muri held on the occasion of Municipality Day and the feast of Saint Martin, Bishop, patron of the parish and the Municipality.
“Nearby is the border on the river Mura across which are friendly, close and related states and peoples, Slovenes and Hungarians. But, what is farther is distant, Brussels is not the capital of Croatia, nor was it Belgrade, Pest or Vienna, but they were relatively close. Brussels is far away and if we let others make terribly important decisions on our behalf that concern, after all, life and death, war and peace, then this state serves no purpose. This is our state, these are our borders, our people and this is our culture!“, the President noted.
Regarding Međimurje, President Milanović said that it is a region with its own values and that they are not comparable to any part of Croatia. “Here you work, produce, and it’s harder to make money, it’s harder to earn the euro, and that’s the way,” the President said.
Further in his address, President Milanović wished the residents of Međimurje to draw as many European funds “to their own advantage”. “Those are not funds that will be able to flow directly into money and profits. We are talking here about money and profits that are equal to strength and independence. This is money for projects that help to change the infrastructure, but not to make more money directly, because no one gives money for that”, President Milanović noted.
In this respect, he added that the Sveti Martin Spa, where the special session of the Municipal Council of Sveti Martin na Mura was held, was bought by a large German company. “I don’t know that any Croatian company bought a spa in Germany. It is a relationship between forces and power, strength and interest; one should be aware of it and not get carried away with grandiose ideas. We must get the most out of what Europe offers us, know where our space is, what our values are and mind our business”, the Croatian President concluded.
Also speaking at the special session besides President Milanović were the president of the Municipal Council of the Municipality of Sveti Martin na Muri Ivica Kutnjak, the head of the Municipality Martin Srša, Međimurje County-prefect Matija Posavec, and member of the Croatian Parliament and delegate of the Speaker of the Croatian Parliament Ljubomir Kolarek.
Alongside President Milanović was the Adviser to the President for Human Rights and Civil Society Melita Mulić.
PHOTO: Office of the President of the Republic of Croatia / Filip Glas