President Milanović at Opening of Children’s House in Rijeka: This Is Culture of the Heart that Makes us Citizens

The President of the Republic Zoran Milanović attended the official opening of the Children’s House in Rijeka’s new neighbourhood of culture, the former Rikard Benčić industrial complex.

The reconstruction of the Brick building of the former Rikard Benčić industrial complex into the Children’s House neighbourhood was carried out as part of the project “Revitalisation of the Benčić Complex – the Brick and the T-shaped Buildings”, which received grants from the European Regional Development Fund in the scope of the Operational Programme Competitiveness and Cohesion 2014-2020.

In his address President Milanović expressed his satisfaction and his admiration, and perhaps even a bit of envy because there are no such projects in Zagreb. “This is culture of the heart that makes us citizens”, he noted.

“When I was a child we waited in front of the TV each evening for the cartoon at 7:15 pm because there was no internet. The only cartoon that wasn’t American was “Profesor Baltazar”. That was the only thing, except American cartoons, we liked to watch because the rest were boring. A product of our culture showed us how to be elitist and folk at the same time. This is what I wish for you too. I wish to express my satisfaction and my admiration, and perhaps even a bit of envy because there are no such things in my hometown of Zagreb. There’s the National Library and that’s it. You could have levelled the old building, built a parking lot and a shopping centre, but you didn’t. I glance to the right, at the library, that will be a real small wonder”, President Milanović said.

“In the former state Rijeka was the largest industrial city, it was rich enough and it was clear that it cannot stay like that forever, that the factories will have to be converted into something else, something not as noisy, without anvils, hammers and squeaks”, the President said, adding that the children will come to the Children’s House. Furthermore, he told the children not to forget to go to the playground, play ball, go to the swimming pool, the running track. “All of that’s important, but this is culture of the heart that makes us citizens. Culture must be manipulative, evil, harnessed into inhuman goals, and can be noble, creative, relaxing and that’s what I wish for you. I congratulate all of those who contributed to preserve the spirit of the city, a view of the city, to make sure that this doesn’t turn into a typical model of modern life that consumes us”, President Milanović said in concluding his address.

Attending the official opening of the Children’s House alongside President Milanović was the mayor of Rijeka Vojko Obersnel, the director of Rijeka 2000 Irena Kregar Šegota, the minister of Culture and Media Nina Obuljen Koržinek, fifth grade pupils of Nikola Tesla Elementary School, the rector of the University of Rijeka Snježana Prijić Samaržija, deputy mayors of Rijeka Marko Filipović and Nikola Ivaniš, and the president of the Municipal Council of Rijeka Andrej Poropat.

After the official opening of the first house of its kind in Croatia, President Milanović toured the Children’s House and viewed a presentation of the operation of each separate entity. He also visited the City Museum of Rijeka in the refurbished building of Rijeka’s industrial heritage – the Sugar Refinery Palace of Rijeka, a protected cultural object of the Republic of Croatia.

Accompanying President Milanović were his Special Adviser for Culture Zdravko Zima and his Adviser for Education Jadranka Žarković.

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