President Milanović: Croatia must not be governed from any bureaucratic centre abroad
The President of the Republic Zoran Milanović today attended a special session of the Krapinske Toplice Municipal Council on the 30th anniversary of the municipality.
“We must not let ourselves be pushed out of the line to success and we must be among the first in line, but we must also not lose our identity,” President Milanović said in his speech, expressing concern over the possibility of important issues being decided outside Croatia’s borders. “Croatia must maintain its sovereignty. Croatia must not be governed automatically at the push of a button from any bureaucratic centre, not even from a bureaucratic centre that is convinced it has the best intentions,” said the President.
“This is ours and will remain ours as long as I am the President,” said President Milanović, calling for togetherness and the preservation of the country’s identity, regardless of origin or region. He pointed out that Croatia has shown it accepts Presidents from all parts of the country, “which makes a nation strong and united, despite the challenges it faces.”
President Milanović used the occasion to again speak about the need to take advantage of European Union funds and emphasized: “Although EU funds provide an incentive for development, they are not unlimited and will not last forever. Some infrastructure projects, which would otherwise be a burden on local budgets, are now being financed by EU funds. But it is not acceptable for long-term unclassified roads in Zagorje, a more developed part of Croatia, to be financed by Brussels. It’s not normal, but it’s the way it is at the moment and you should take advantage of that opportunity and circumstance.” The President called for greater ambition in achieving development goals in order for Croatia to become a resilient, independent and wealthy country.
Commenting on the local identity and Kajkavian language heard at the session, President Milanović called for the preservation of the local Kajkavian language, which is “deeply rooted in the soul of the Croatian people.” He emphasized the importance of supporting teachers and all those who contribute to the preservation of the language, since it is part of Croatia’s cultural heritage. “Kajkavian almost became standard Croatian. Preserve the Kajkavian language,” the President said in Krapinske Toplice.
President Milanović was accompanied by the Adviser to the President of the Republic for Human Rights and Civil Society Melita Mulić.
PHOTO: Office of the President of the Republic of Croatia / Filip Glas