President Milanović in Čakovec: Croatia is our country and only we care for it
“Croatia is Međimurje’s destiny. Every contribution, every fight and every person that has fallen for the Croatian cause is for our cause. Our cause is Croatian, and only then European,” the President of the Republic Zoran Milanović stated today in Čakovec, where he attended the celebration of 9 January – Day of the Unification of Međimurje with the Motherland Croatia.
In his address, President Milanović referred to the money from European funds, saying that “the billions that are pouring into Međimurje are no one’s merit”. “It is the inspiration of the moment and we do not decide on that. It is decided by a group of people in some of the largest and richest members of the European Union, who at this stage decided that an amount they called the Recovery Fund, in addition to regular funds, will be transferred to these because that is in the calculation, it is worth it”, he noted.
Furthermore, in terms of Croatia’s membership in the European Union, he stressed that it has given a great deal for that membership. “It has given its sovereignty in a certain segment. According to the Constitution, sovereignty is non-transferable, indivisible and inalienable, unless the people decide otherwise by direct declaration. We have decided and that is how things stand at present, but we should always be aware that there is basic Croatian sovereignty. This is our country, these are our borders and only we care about this country”, President Milanović added.
“We all have our own states, they are national. Our state came together on the theory, practice, experience and faith in the existence of the Croatian nation”, the President noted, and said that we must not forget the suffering and sacrifice of the Croatian defenders of the Homeland War who filled the units of the Croatian Army. “Among them, the people of Međimurje were numerous and incredibly proper in their turnout. They were in the service of the people and the nation – those are the facts. The sense of duty and service here is extremely pronounced and special – this is a special value”, President Milanović concluded.
Today, Međimurje County is marking one of the most important dates in Međimurje’s history – the Day of Unification of Međimurje with the Motherland Croatia. Namely, on 9 January 1919, at a large national assembly held in Franciscan Square in Čakovec, about ten thousand people of Međimurje unanimously decided to secede from the Hungarian state and join the motherland – Croatia. On that day, the people of Međimurje showed how much they were attached to their roots and to what extent they were aware of their origin, the right to their native language and affiliation to the Croatian people, and in 2019, the Croatian Parliament declared 9 January a memorial day.
Speaking at the special session featuring a music programme “Večer međimurskog identiteta” (Evening of Međimurje Identity) celebrating 9 January memorial day – Day of Unification of Međimurje with the Motherland Croatia besides President Milanović were the president of the Matica hrvatska – Čakovec branch Zoran Turk, the president of Međimurje County Assembly Dragutin Glavina, Međimurje County-prefect Matija Posavec and the delegate of the Croatian Parliament, MP and mayor of Prelog Ljubomir Kolarek.
Accompanying 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 / Tomislav Bušljeta