President Milanović Warns that Construction of Hangars for New Military Helicopters by Defence Ministry not even Started: This is a Case of Total Negligence
After attending the 30th anniversary celebration of the foundation of the Croatian Air Force at “Pukovnik Marko Živković” barracks in Velika Gorica, the President of the Republic Zoran Milanović has warned that to this day the hangars to house the military helicopters, which Croatia purchased have not yet been constructed, even though they are scheduled to be delivered at the beginning of the new year.
“These hangars have to be emptied because the American helicopters shall be delivered in the new year. We purchased two, and we have nowhere to put them. Hangars should have been constructed to house them. Neither has the public tender process been completed, nor has work begun. This equipment will have to be out in the rain, in order to put something more valuable in the hangars. This is a case of total negligence. They must not be in the rain if there is no justification for it. The hangars are not the Great Wall of Chine, it is a simple job. One just has to do one’s job”, President Milanović stated, reminding that the Defence Ministry is in charge of constructing the hangars.
Asked about the state of the ordnance and will the MiGs last until the arrival of the new military aircraft, President Milanović said: “They will even though there were times when one considered getting rid of these aircraft. I hope that ultimately these aircraft will not cost 1.3 billion euros, because that is a serious problem”. He again warned about the fact that the cost of the French military aircraft that Croatia is purchasing has increased by 200 million euros compared to the accepted offer.
Furthermore the press were interested in the story about the purchase of US Bradley fighting vehicles since the American offer expires in January 2022. “It is in someone’s interest not to take them. Not even buy them, but take them. Someone is systematically obstructing the process and undermining it in the media, this is ultimately impudence. Congress has made the decision, it can be repeated, but with such unreliable partners no one will. Someone probably wants to get the commission. You do not want something American, which are excellent goods. 150 million dollars would be the total cost to us. It is like getting a new BMW for 1000 euros”, he said.
Asked why the Defence Minister wasn’t present at the celebration, President Milanović replied: “I do not know. But even if he had come, he would not speak. Until this Minister is replaced or until he changes certain things, he will not speak. I would rather have someone normal next to me. I assume that Plenković is looking for a new minister, he has so much on his shoulders, he alone is to blame for it. It is all his fault”. President Milanović once again repeated that the Defence Minister will not be able to speak at ceremonies “until colonel Burčul is reinstated and until he stops harassing Admiral Hranj, and threaten with inspections that have no jurisdiction”.
The Honorary and Protection Battalion is working, it has a Deputy Commander, except that they are not paid their per diem because it is the only thing the Minister can achieve by blackmail. This is a crime and a case for the State Attorney’s Office, but you cannot expect the State Attorney’s Office to investigate because they have just saved the State Attorney who should have been dismissed. They will not do anything in this matter”, President Milanović answered when asked about the functioning of the Honorary and Protection Battalion. Since the Battalion’s members are not paid their per diem when they are in the programme of the President of the Republic, yet at the same time are paid their wages, President Milanović noted that according to the Minister’s interpretation they are illegally with him. “Then their wages should also be decreased, for example when they accompanied me to Komiža. They were not at their places of work. Let us see which hero will dare do that”, he said.