President Milanović in Vukovar: Brussels’ Mentorship and insolence towards Croats is out of line

The President of the Republic Zoran Milanović attended today in Vukovar a special session of its City Council on the occasion of Vukovar Municipal Day. In his address President Milanović commented on how Vukovar has incredibly changed from the time it was in ruins, physically and spiritually divided.

“Today the city is neat and beautiful, more so than many cities in Croatia that were not devastated during the war. A city in which someone from a metropolis would be able to live”, President Milanović noted, adding that the residents of Vukovar take credit for it. “Everyone deserves credit for this. It is not good to single out anyone”, he said.

The President reiterated that the absorption of European Union funds is the only measure of success. “That is the only measure of your and our success. When I hear that in these ten years we had a surplus of 50 billion kunas, it means that we have a surplus of 5 billion each year. What do we get in return? We get small amounts of money equalling half of Zagreb’s budget for the entire state on a yearly basis. What do we give? We give quite a bit – our sovereignty, the right to decide on many of our business dealings, someone the chance to force their opinions down our throats, to be told how life is beautiful, how children should be raised, how schools should look”, President Milanović remarked.

He underlined that he agrees with many things that Brussels promotes, but that some things are unacceptable and lead to disaster. “That type of mentorship and insolence they practice on small nations, especially East European nations, and especially on us – Croats, is out of line. I feel that we do not get basic loyalty from our partners, I find that all of you whose family names are not native know very well what I mean. I expect minimum courtesy and respect towards Croatia and I will fight for this with all peaceful means”, President Milanović stated.

The President went on to talk about Croatia’s neighbour Serbia, saying that we have not settled old scores with this state. “In saying so I do not mean anything rude, but they owe us certain things”, the President underlined.

“Bosnia and Herzegovina and Sarajevo were not liberated by American bombers, Banja Luka was practically liberated by the Croatian Army, Croatian commanders perished there in October 1995, in a war that was no longer Croatian but American. Croatian blood was shed there, and now we have to listen to us being labelled ultranationalists or uncivilized who are only seeking what is elementary for our people, and no more than that. And I will fight for that. I believe that many Vukovar residents will support me as well as many Croatian patriots. Not nationalists or chauvinists. In Bosnia and Herzegovina there are no weapons and there is no threat of a conflict, but Croatian interests and the vital interests of the Croatian state and the Croatian people in Bosnia and Herzegovina will be defended in Zagreb. Everyone who wants to be an ally is welcome. All those who do not want this can ask themselves whom they are serving. I am saying this on the border with Serbia, a state that has a historical chance to go where it belongs – and that is the west”, President Milanović stated.

He finished his address by wishing Vukovar residents to develop further and to fight for every euro from European funds, and for “peace in relations between Croats and Serbs, which are not ideal, but have to be worked on. I am pleased that recently there have not been any harsh words, but some issues must be resolved, because some issues cannot be forgotten. Long live Croatian Vukovar and long live independent Croatia that has a head of its own to think and a mouth of its own to speak”.

Besides President Milanović Vukovar residents were congratulated on Municipal Day by the City Council president Željko Sabo, Vukovar Mayor Ivan Penava and Vukovar-Srijem Deputy County Prefect Franjo Orešković. The President of the Republic was accompanied by the Adviser to the President of the Republic for Human Rights and Civil Society Melita Mulić, and the Special Adviser to the President of the Republic for Homeland War Veterans Marijan Mareković.

PHOTO: Office of the President of the Republic of Croatia / Tomislav Bušljeta