President Milanović Attends Special Session of Korčula Town Council: Korčula needs an airport
“Pelješac Bridge was opened a few days ago, a project that was dreamed about, and everything starts with dreams. The bridge is now here and it is much more than a traffic corridor and a pile of steel and concrete. I am very pleased that Pelješac Bridge is here, but I am convinced that you need an airport. It would do small wonders for the island’s economy and tourism,” the President of the Republic Zoran Milanović said in his address at a special session of the Korčula Town Council, which was held today to mark Municipal Day.
Speaking about the town of Korčula, President Milanović focused on the island’s tradition, development and beauty. “This tradition and this land are not from yesterday, this culture is not from yesterday. This place was civilized, successful and advanced – it is a place that was written about. Our islands are a paradise. There is nothing like this anywhere this close to the heart of Europe. If you had a bridge, nothing would change here. This would still remain a beautiful island. Enjoy your island. One cannot but notice the beauty of Korčula,” said the President of the Republic, quoting from the book of British General Maclean, who wrote about his visit to Korčula in the 1940s: “I couldn’t believe at first where I came. The place is small and people are dressed like in the West.”
In his speech, the President also commented on the reactions of Bosniak politicians and the significance of Pelješac Bridge for Bosnia and Herzegovina. “While opening the bridge, I also mentioned Bosnia and Herzegovina, saying that in the construction of Pelješac Bridge there is no malice or evil, that it was not built to spite anyone, least of all Bosnia and Herzegovina. However, these days I heard a lot of bellicose statements from the leadership of the Bosniak-Muslim political parties, and to be honest, I did not believe that we would get to the point of making threats with weapons and drones, and headcounts of young (military age) people. This is the son of a man whom President Tuđman awarded one of the highest orders that the Croatian state can bestow. I thought this bridge connects, but I don’t know anymore what to think,” said President Milanović.
Speaking at the special session apart from the President of the Republic were the President of the Korčula Town Council Marija Šegedin, Mayor of Korčula Nika Silić Maroević, Dubrovnik-Neretva County Prefect and envoy of the Croatian Prime Minister Nikola Dobroslavić, and Member of the Croatian Parliament and envoy of the Speaker of the Croatian Parliament Branko Bačić. Public awards of the town of Korčula were presented to this year’s laureates and top athletes of the town for 2021 were proclaimed.
After the special session of the Korčula Town Council, President Milanović toured the exhibition “Korčulanska drvena brodogradnja” [Wooden shipbuilding of Korčula] at the new town gallery, the Korčula Loggia, under the expert guidance of its authors Lana Filippi Brkić and Dušan Kalogjera. The exhibition showcases the history of shipbuilding on the island of Korčula and is the recipient of the Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts J. J. Strossmayer Award.
Adviser to the President of the Republic for Human Rights and Civil Society Melita Mulić was alongside President Milanović.
PHOTO: Office of the President of the Republic of Croatia / Marko Beljan