Make a Contribution, Build Your Knowledge, Ask Questions and Be Critical of Politics
The President of the Republic Zoran Milanović attended a convocation ceremony for students of the University of Zagreb Faculty of Law, telling them that as lawyers, judges, or corporate lawyers they will be more like ‘test pilots’ than investigators. “In order to be test pilots you must have a lot of knowledge, a practical spirit, you have to search constantly for something new and stick to basic assumptions, but go your own way. Make a contribution, build your knowledge, ask questions and be critical of politics,” the President told the masters of law.
“Life is a journey, not a destination,” President Milanović said in his address, adding that “my path is my path, and your path will be individual, special, a unique feat for each of you. My journey was not usual and it is unrepeatable.”
The President also spoke of the emigration of young people. “Over 60 percent, that is – supposedly – terrible, you will all stay in Croatia by default, that’s your job and that’s good. If I was addressing graduates of electrical engineering or computer science, this would not be the case,” the President pointed out. He recalled that in 1990, ninety percent of law, medical and other students in Zagreb wanted to go abroad, too. “That’s human and curious. That’s a quest for knowledge and professional development, with the desire and the ambition to come back,” President Milanović remarked.
“In that I see a challenge for Croatia, because people are leaving en masse, but also coming back. One should be careful and create all the conditions to make people stay. Let’s observe our surroundings, learn, not jump to conclusions, let’s be sceptical, but loyal, committed and true to some ideals, and ultimately to our homeland,” President Milanović underscored.
After the convocation ceremony for students of the University of Zagreb Faculty of Law, the President took questions from reporters, which included those about the situation in Syria and the news that Turkish President Erdogan will no longer prevent migrants from moving towards Europe, and that he will open borders. President Milanović said that what was happening now was the result of the deaths of some thirty Turkish soldiers.
“What has been happening for the past two days is the result of this incident, for which someone should be held responsible,” the President stressed. He added that Turkey has a three-and-a-half-year-old agreement with the European Union, which also has a financial aspect. “Turkey has been a candidate for several decades for joining the European Union, which is no longer realistic, it is a member of the Customs Union and I think this situation will calm down in a few days. As for us, our citizens, our peace, I do not think that the situation from 2015 can be repeated. Croatia is ready, but these are people who had to flee their homes, who have been relocated several times, who have fled in fear of retaliation, and here the responsibility lies with the European Union and Russia, as well as the United States, which has withdrawn from there and left a vacuum. We have not left and we will not leave Afghanistan overnight. Our role in Afghanistan is minimal, but we will not leave overnight,” the President said.
