President Milanović: If we do not define our interests in Croatia on our own, Brussels will not be of help
The President of the Republic Zoran Milanović attended today in the city of Rijeka a ceremony marking the University of Rijeka Faculty of Dental Medicine Day and the 50th anniversary of the Study of Dental Medicine.
Congratulating them on their anniversary, the President of the Republic told the professors of the University of Rijeka Faculty of Dental Medicine to continue to work hard and rigorously to “produce, educate and lead, as good experts and pedagogues, on the right path people who will make a nation of unbreakable teeth out of the Croatian people and our citizens.”
In his address at the ceremony, President Milanović said that Croatia is a small community and a small nation, and that Rijeka is a city that is always open to ideas and people, a city that does not divide. “Both our plans and your plans must be big, ambitious and endless,” said President Milanović, adding that we must be aware that we are in the European Union, a community that surpasses us in everything, both in terms of size and number.
In this regard, he added that from the point of view of the bigger powers Croatia is a small community and it must be guided by demonstrable procedures and rules. “At the same time, we must take into account that if we do not help ourselves, if we do not define our interests on our own – both in Rijeka and in Croatia – that neither Brussels nor any of the European Union members will help us in this. Because, no one looks at us with the eyes with which we see and experience ourselves, and no one cares about us, in the true sense of the word, as we do ourselves,” President Milanović emphasized.
Speaking at the ceremony apart from President Milanović were the Dean of the University of Rijeka Faculty of Dental Medicine Professor Sonja Pezelj-Ribarić, Vice Rector of the University of Rijeka Professor Marta Žuvić, President of the Croatian Dental Chamber Dr. Hrvoje Pezo, Mayor of the City of Rijeka Marko Filipović, Deputy Primorje-Gorski Kotar County Prefect Petar Mamula, State Secretary in the Ministry of Health and delegate of the Croatian Prime Minister Dr. Marija Bubaš, representative of the first generation of enrolled students Dr. Tiberio Zaverski and representative of the first generation of graduates of the Faculty of Dental Medicine Dr. Frano Visković. Recognitions, certificates of appreciation and awards were presented at the event.
The integrated undergraduate and graduate university Study of Dental Medicine at the University of Rijeka was launched in October 1973, building on the foundations of the previously founded College of Dentistry. In 2019, a decision was made to establish the University of Rijeka Faculty of Dental Medicine without legal personality. The Faculty of Dental Medicine started independent operations on 1 March 2020 and this day is therefore observed as Faculty of Dental Medicine Day. Today, the Faculty of Dental Medicine has 254 students.
President Milanović was accompanied by the Adviser to the President of the Republic for Education Jadranka Žarković and the Commissioner of the President of the Republic for Sports Željko Jovanović at the ceremony marking University of Rijeka Faculty of Dental Medicine Day.
PHOTO: Office of the President of the Republic of Croatia / Marko Beljan