President Milanović in Koprivnica: We must never lose the right to decide for ourselves

“The world is irrevocably changing and the models we are used to are not the same, they are changing. We will simply have to adjust to this and even accept advice from others in good faith, but never their leadership. Decisions are made here, at home only. Otherwise we will be forgotten”, the President of the Republic Zoran Milanović stated today in Koprivnica on the occasion of Municipality Day where he once again stressed that we have to look at ourselves and our interests. “As it could not be decided in Pest, in Vienna, even less in Belgrade, it cannot be decided in Brussels either”, President Milanović noted.

In his address, President Milanović referred to the presidential elections in the United States of America underlining that the outcome of these elections can have broad repercussions on global security and peace. “The outcome of the American elections concerns us too, both in terms of peace in Europe and peace in the Near East and the Middle East. For Iran, Palestine and Israel it is important that the massacres and the killings of innocent people finally stop. Humanity needs to knock at the door. Those are all things that could perhaps be different in a few days”, President Milanović said.

“Elections are taking place in the United States tomorrow though they have been going on for some time with online voting, and the voting method itself can lead to distrust and doubt in the results, unlike our system, where elections are organized in a way that maintains the trust of citizens. After these elections, the world may look the same as the day before or significantly different,” added President Milanović, stressing the importance of Croatia remaining focused on its specific interests and preserving national sovereignty.

The President of the Republic underlined that Croatia is a part of the European Union and NATO, but first and foremost sovereignty must be the basis of all foreign activity. “Above all, the Croatian homeland – Koprivnica, Podravina, Dalmatia, Zagreb. We have to keep working to protect ourselves, our people and our interests because we must never lose the right to decide for ourselves”, he stated.

In this context, President Milanović talked about the importance of developing domestic resources; he pointed out the importance of investing in education and infrastructure such as the recently opened student and pupil residences in Koprivnica and the traffic connection with Križevci.

“Cities like Koprivnica represent a positive example of sustainable development, but it is important to note that European funds by themselves will not make Croatia richer or more competitive. They are means that should be used wisely, but the real wealth comes from investing in our own resources and in strategic production”, President Milanović noted.

He further indicated that Croatia must strive to achieve as much economic independence as possible, especially in key sectors. “It is important to produce what is essential, especially food and basic defence resources. Defence is the foundation of a state, and it exists because of people, not because of borders on a map or a flag, but precisely because of us”, President Milanović stated.

Furthermore, President Milanović stated that a whole series of skills in our country are in danger of disappearing and becoming extinct. He quoted the example of the former manufacture and construction of submarines up to seventy metres long in Croatian shipyards. “Those are skills that in themselves today may not have some use value. Not everyone knows how to build them and few countries in the world have done it, Croatia among them. It is knowledge that in itself has a limited market, but this know-how is special, technically sublime, demanding and must be maintained in order not to be lost. Because, once it is lost, it is difficult to restore it”, the President said.

The President of the Republic also spoke about demography, saying that there is almost no country in Europe whose native population has a natural increase. He added that these are issues and challenges that Europe has not faced so far, and that immigration cannot solve. “That’s why care for pensioners is very important, because there is no European Union, it doesn’t exist. It is our decision whether the average resident of this country in the majority age group will be able to live. Because at the end of the day, they are also voters, they are not destroyers, but they are the majority of this society,” President Milanović remarked.

Speaking at the formal session apart from President Milanović was the president of Koprivnica City Council Ivan Pal, the mayor of Koprivnica Mišel Jakšić and Koprivnica-Križevci County-prefect Darko Koren. Annual awards to deserving associations and individuals for contribution to the development of Koprivnica were presented.

Alongside President Milanović was the Adviser to the President for Human Rights and Civil Society Melita Mulić.

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