President Milanović in Opatija: We should take every euro available to us

“What is special here, in this beautiful and unique town, is the proximity of cold and hot climates, two extremes. Nowhere else in Europe can you travel 20 kilometres or drive for 15 to 20 minutes and go from the Mediterranean to a mountainous region influenced by alpine air. This is found only in Opatija and Rijeka. There is no similar place in Europe – not on the Côte d’Azur, not in Italy, nowhere else,” the President of the Republic Zoran Milanović said today at a ceremony held in the coastal town of Opatija on the occasion of Municipal Day.

President Milanović does not see Opatija as an average town. “It is endowed in a special way; it is relatively wealthy, and its budget can be compared to the budgets of towns in Italy, particularly those in the affluent north. This is a prosperous area, relatively rich, peaceful, open, inclusive, and proud of it, which is good. This area is in some ways a (frontrunner),” the President said about the town.

Speaking about European Union funds, President Milanović emphasized that we have to fight for every euro because Croatia has given a lot in return. “Opatija’s budget is large, but every euro available to us from Brussels should be taken. And we shouldn’t be too grateful for that, because we give a lot in return. We have only just won our independence, and we must be aware of that. We have given up our right to decide on some matters that we would otherwise handle on our own,” emphasized the President of the Republic.

Furthermore, commenting on the European Union, he emphasized that one should be a loyal partner, but above all, one should look after one’s own interests. “Europe will never be a community of equal nations. We are not equal in terms of culture – and I don’t think that some cultures are superior or inferior – nor in terms of customs, not even family customs,” he said.

“Our customs, that is, your customs, are Chakavian – the root of Croatianhood and Croatian identity and tradition,” emphasized President Milanović.

In addition to President Milanović, the special session featured speeches by Dušan Kotur, President of the Opatija Town Council; Fernando Kirigin, Mayor of Opatija; Zlatko Komadina, Prefect of Primorje-Gorski Kotar County; Josip Ostrogović, delegate of the Prime Minister and Member of Parliament and Member of Parliament Ivica Lukanović.

President Milanović was accompanied by Melita Mulić, Adviser to the President of the Republic for Human Rights and Civil Society.

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