President Milanović after his meeting with Chilean President Boric: We have a close relationship with Chile and similar views on a number of global issues

“I am here as President of the Republic of Croatia and of all its citizens, and in a certain way of all those who are of Croatian origin. Of course Chileans are first of all Chileans, they are citizens of this country, they are loyal to this country. I am visiting President Boric first of all in his capacity of President of Chile, and then as someone who is a descendant on his father’s side from our Croatian, Dalmatian islands, which is something that cannot be erased”, President Milanović stated in his statement to the media after his meeting with the President of the Republic of Chile Gabriel Boric Font.

President Milanović is on an Official visit to the Republic of Chile and today he is in the capital Santiago where he met with Chilean President Boris Font. In advance of his meeting with the Chilean President, President Milanović laid a wreath at the Monument to General Bernard O’Higgins, and afterwards there was an official welcoming ceremony for the Croatian President on “Plaza de la Constitución” square in front of La Moneda Palace, and a bilateral meeting of the two presidents with the delegations of the Republic of Croatia and the Republic of Chile.

Recalling thirty years ago that the Republic of Chile was among the first to recognize the Republic of Croatia, President Milanović noted in the case of the distribution of diplomatic assets, Chile was more correct than other states. “Croatia then struggled for every square meter of embassies and premises that the former state appropriated. That beginning might seem distant, but we remember it”, he noted.

From our European perspective, President Milanović says that Chile by its structure and the functioning of some of its traditions is the most European of Latin American countries. “The Latin American identity is important, but we have a very close relationship with Chile. We have similar views on a number of global issues. In the first place I refer to the fight against the global climate crisis. I know that at this moment it is probably not the most interesting topic because there is a war in Ukraine and we are dealing with other matters, but it is definitely a topic that will demand global and joint action, and Chile is one of the world leaders. It has to be because it extends through several climate belts, and finishes on the Antarctic”, President Milanović stated.

“I would like to thank you for the wonderful welcome, and I look forward to today’s meeting, socializing, talks, and I am also looking forward to my visit to the Croats of Punta Arenas, the city where the Chilean President was born”, President Milanović indicated in concluding his meeting with the President of the Republic of Chile Gabriel Boric Font.

“In the past thirty years since the establishment of diplomatic relations, we deepened and strengthened relations between the two states”, the President of Chile stated, and recalled that Croatia and Chile have many agreements on cooperation.

“I know that President Milanović came to see the contribution of the 300,000 members of the Croatian community to Chile. It is a prosperous community which is prominent in all sectors. And because of that contribution of the Croats to Chile, I will present a decoration to President Milanović”, President Boric Font stated.

A formal luncheon hosted by the President of Chile in honour of President Milanović followed the statements to the media of the two presidents. At the formal luncheon the two presidents exchanged the highest state decorations. President Milanović presented to President Boric Font the Grand Order of King Tomislav with Sash and Grand Star for outstanding contribution to the advancement of comprehensive relations and the development of mutual cooperation between the Republic of Croatia and the Republic of Chile and for promoting friendship and partnership between the Croatian and the Chilean people. President Boric Font presented the “Chain of Grand Order of Merit for Chile with Grand Star” to President Milanović.

In the continuation of the day, President Milanović will visit the Chilean Museum of Pre-Columbian Art” where he will view the exposition “Chile before Chile”. He will deliver a lecture at the Chilean University and together with the President of the Republic of Chile Gabriel Boric Font he will attend the formal dinner with representatives of the Croatian community in Santiago.

PHOTO: Office of the President of the Republic of Croatia / Tomislav Bušljeta