President Milanović in Ludbreg: Times are dangerous and I will do everything to keep Croatia as far away as possible from any war 

“Our country is currently in a deep and abominable crisis, the biggest so far. I associate this with external factors that have been going on for several years and where people’s threshold of tolerance and critical approach towards some phenomena is growing numb. People simply agree, not forever, to be pulled by the nose, to be deprived of their freedom, to be morally humiliated, to be convinced that black is white and white is green,” the President of the Republic Zoran Milanović said at a special session of the Ludbreg Town Council held on the occasion of Municipal Day.

In his address at the special session, President Milanović highlighted the key challenges we face as a society and our orientation in the world in these turbulent times. “We had corona, a terribly complicated period that all of us in the West went through. There were some justified things, but there was also complete craziness. The rules of behaviour and some standards have already been altered, and what was abnormal before had suddenly started to be tolerated,” he warned.

Speaking about global developments, President Milanović emphasized the importance of avoiding conflict and preserving peace, especially with regard to the war in Ukraine. “I will do everything to keep Croatia as far away as possible from that and any other war. I’m not naive, I don’t lack combativeness in my life, but I know what I can and what we can do, and I know what we can’t and won’t do. We live in a state of semi-war,” he said, explaining that a state of war does not have to be a state in which people shoot at each other and unload bombs. “These times are very dangerous and we must come out of them normal and unscathed,” he added.

Commenting on the migrant crisis, President Milanović emphasized the importance of border protection and a clear migration policy, stressing that migrants who are not fleeing persecution should be treated in accordance with the law. “Regarding the issue of migration, in 2015 I had a humane and open, but also calculated approach. I was looking at how to help people without endangering ourselves. Today it is different. In 2015, almost a million people passed through Croatia in a very short time. Today, that is no longer the case, because these are now migrants who come with a calculation and only want to take advantage of social assistance. Those fleeing persecution, genocide and the like should be protected, however, today’s migrants do not flee from that. These people are here illegally and should be treated as such. The border is sacred, people died for it in the war in Croatia, people rose up to resist, brigades were formed so that it would be known where our land was. “All this does not stand in the way of us being good, honest and compassionate, being a loyal member of the European Union and NATO, but not being fools,” said President Milanović.

Speaking further about the importance of identity, President Milanović emphasized the importance of Christian culture and tradition in the formation of Croatian national identity. “Our identity does not exist without Christianity because we are a Christian and Catholic nation and culture, not to mention the historical core of what we are most proud of, which are the cultural and historical jewels of the Adriatic. It is the history of Christianity and the history of Europe. Europe and Croatia are a Christian area, which of course does not exclude other religions,” he said, adding that Europe is still a community of peoples, nations and states. “We are a state of a historical nation, with historical rights, with borders, with a clearly defined territory, with a population, with citizens, that is, with everything that makes a nation,” said the President of the Republic.

In his address, President Milanović commented on the relations between Croatia and its neighbours, and in that sense he also mentioned Serbia, saying that Croatia has an advantage because “it is stronger than Serbia and has a better position.” “We won it. We have a stronger economy. It is an ideal time to break with the past, with some kind of Yugoslavias. That has passed, that is behind us. But, you have to be good and constructive with your neighbours, regardless of history,” said the President.

Commenting on the town of Ludbreg, President Milanović said that it is a beautiful and pleasant place where one has a sense of peace, work and order. “When you listen to people, everything sort of clicks. It is the result of the work of current politics in the Croatian north, but also stems from tradition. It is not from yesterday. It has been here… for thousands of years… the customs and the people. It does not happen overnight,” said President Milanović, calling again for the use of European funding.

“Take money from European funds because it is not eternal and will not be around for a long time,” said the President and warned that the amount of EU money will only decrease and “Croatia must not enter a phase of energy and economic inertia in which, thirty or forty years later, it will look up and be aware that it cannot continue and that the gap between us and those who are richer will remain forever.” “The one who seriously prepares for work is the one who contemplates this,” said President Milanović, who concluded that although now everything looks nice, this money is not used to finance companies, but to support the infrastructure.

In addition to President Milanović, also speaking at the special session were the President of the Ludbreg Town Council Darko Jagić, the Mayor of Ludbreg Dubravko Bilić, Varaždin County Prefect Anđelko Stričak, and Međimurje County Prefect Matija Posavec. At the ceremony, annual public awards were presented to the most deserving individuals and organizations for their contributions to the town’s progress.

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

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