Toasts by President Milanović and Spanish King Felipe VI at the State Dinner in the Office of the President of the Republic
The President of the Republic of Croatia Zoran Milanović and the wife of the President Prof. Sanja Musić Milanović, PhD, hosted a state dinner in honour of Their Majesties Spanish King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia, who are on an Official visit to the Republic of Croatia. President Milanović and King Felipe VI delivered a toast at the State dinner. They are published in their entirety:
Toast by the President of the Republic Zoran Milanović:
“It is a delight and an immense satisfaction to wish you, Your Majesties and the entire Spanish delegation, a warm and cordial welcome to the Republic of Croatia on behalf of my wife Sanja and on my behalf. We consider this visit a gesture of genuine affection of the Kingdom of Spain for the Republic of Croatia and an expression of the great friendship and closeness of our countries.
This is the first Official visit of your Majesties to my country, which comes after last year’s visit by the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Spain Pedro Sánchez to Zagreb, as the first Prime Minister in an Official visit to Croatia.
I use this opportunity, on behalf of my wife and myself, to thank you for your hospitality during our stay in Madrid, at the NATO Summit. It was an exceptional honour to visit your magnificent residence.
I regret to say that this important visit is taking place during Russian aggression against Ukraine, leading to the greatest security crisis in Europe after the Second World War. I sincerely hope that very soon conditions will be created to put an end to the bloodshed and to secure just peace in Ukraine founded on respect for the territorial integrity and independence of the country. At the same time I feel it is crucial to maintain unity and close cooperation between EU and NATO members and strengthen cooperation between all the countries of the area.
Although Croatia and Spain are situated in different parts of Europe, we are close in terms of belonging to the Mediterranean area and in the numerous cultural and identity links that have been created in the course of a vigorous and rich history, which was common during one period in early modern history.
Particularly strong ties began to develop with the Spanish Crown of Emperor Charles and lasted quite intensively for almost three centuries. Multiple Croatian ships, first of all the galleys and “karaka” ships from Dubrovnik, either traded in Spanish waters or were directly in the service of the Spanish Court. The first privilege of free trade to the citizens of Dubrovnik was assigned by Emperor Charles already in 1534.
Croatian seamen were quite esteemed throughout the Mediterranean. Thus ties with the Spanish fleet (Armada) were important and deep. Many Croatian galleys participated in successful African expeditions in 1535, 1541 and 1542, and in subsequent successful expeditions.
Emperor Charles received many reports directly from Dubrovnik – the only Christian city that had the privilege to trade with the Ottoman Empire. An aristocrat from Dubrovnik Marin Zamanja spent several months at the Spanish Court, the emperor got him to join the Knights of the Order of St. James (Caballero de la Ordén de Santiago), and later Marin of Dubrovnik had a rich correspondence with the Emperor himself. In the Archivio General de Simancas there are many of his letters to Emperor Charles, mostly encrypted with the emperor’s personal encryption.
This and other information from Dubrovnik helped the Spanish fleet prepare itself well and ultimately capture a major naval victory in the Battle of Lepanto in 1571. In that fleet many galleys from Croatian regions participated, especially from our islands.
Let us not forget: Croatia shared good and bad times with Spain of that era: it participated in the celebration of victory at Lepanto but also in the acrid bitterness of defeat: “the Invincible Armada” was defeated in 1588, at which time Dubrovnik lost practically one quarter of its fleet – and never fully recovered.
Croatian captains sailed under the Spanish flag carrying out responsible duties. Perhaps the most important one of them, captain Vice Martolosić, was directly invited to the Court to be appointed main builder of transoceanic ships: he became one of the principal reformers of the Spanish fleet. He was in charge of designing new “ordenanzas” for the construction of the fleet and became the creator of the so-called “navy of the ocean seas” in 1643. (Regidor del Mar Oceano!). King Felipe IV promoted him to general.
Dubrovnik’s role in the development of world diplomacy is well-known. Thus Dubrovnik opened a consulate for every larger and more important port. Already in Spain in the 16th century it had as many as 19 consulates, and the first consulate in Barcelona is mentioned as early as the 15th century.
Dubrovnik also played an important role for Spain of that time as diplomatic mediator. When the Ottoman Empire conquered the easternmost fort in Europe ever erected by Spain in history – the one in Herceg-Novi – its crew was forced into slavery. Thanks to the mediation of the Republic and intensive negotiations on behalf of the Spanish Crown, the military crew was redeemed from slavery and returned to the homeland via Dubrovnik and Naples.
For centuries your country’s magnificent culture was a source of inspiration to many generations of Croatian writers and poets. Miroslav Krleža and Ivo Andrić enthusiastically wrote about Goya, and our great poet Janko Polić Kamov died in Barcelona. Cultural cooperation has been gaining momentum in the past years thanks to multiple joint projects being conducted in conjunction with the two embassies in Zagreb and in Madrid. Thank you for your work and your interest in bringing our two nations closer together.
Croatia and Spain have experienced a very difficult twentieth century marked by major ideological divisions and huge human losses. In Croatia’s case difficult challenges did not end with democratic transition but we had a difficult period of struggles in which we managed to secure our country’s independence and territorial integrity during the war that was imposed on us. From the very beginning, membership in EU and NATO was the goal of the Republic of Croatia. I am proud that today, together with the Kingdom of Spain, we are a member of these organizations and are connected by mutual values on which rest both our states and our societies.
Our discussions today and your stay in Zagreb are not just a confirmation of our friendship, but also an incentive for further developing and enhancing Croatian-Spanish ties that have successfully developed over the past 30 years.
I believe we have a good basis for intensifying our relations both in the political and the economic sectors. As two Mediterranean countries, especially after last year’s inclusion of Croatia in the MED 9 Process, there is a great opportunity for intensifying our cooperation in many areas especially in those relating to global issues we are facing today – from migrations, climate change to security.
Your Majesties,
Your visit to Croatia will also be marked by a significant scientific aspect. I underline the cooperation between Croatia and Spain, as two partners, in researching nuclear fusion. We believe in the partnership between our companies in the construction of equipment for major scientific projects. I am confident that tomorrow’s Croatian-Spanish Forum will provide economic opportunities offered by this important project.
Your Majesties,
Something we have recognized in each other and with what we have become connected is definitely football, a passion we share with you as well as with some of our best football players who play in Spanish clubs.
I wish you luck in the forthcoming World Cup. I almost wish the final match to be between our two national clubs and for us to meet again soon at the stadium.
But do not forget, we are going for gold this time!
And to conclude, may I raise this glass for the good health and success of our dear guests, Their Majesties. My wife and I wish you a pleasant stay and hope you will enjoy our cordial hospitality.
For the friendship between Croatia and Spain!
Cheers!
Toast by His Majesty Spanish King Felipe VI:
“With this visit to Zagreb the Queen and I are very happy and proud to open a new chapter in bilateral relations at the highest level between the Republic of Croatia and the Kingdom of Spain. This is indeed our first official visit to this country, a member of the EU. But this is also the first ever official visit by a Spanish head of state, a Spanish king, to Croatia. Therefore, this visit has a very special meaning and we will personally always cherish it.
Relations between Croatia and Spain have recently become closer thanks to our joint membership in the Atlantic Alliance, the Council of Europe and almost an entire decade in the European Union. In a few months Croatia will enter the euro zone and the Schengen Area, which will position the country – as is the case with Spain – in the centre of European integration projects.
In the past decade, strengthening bilateral relations, both official ones and relations between our societies, have become a general trend. More than 300,000 Spaniards visit this beautiful country every year, and trade will soon cross the symbolic threshold of one billion euros. To this should be added high-level visits in both directions achieved last year and your attendance, Mr. President, at the recent NATO Summit held in Madrid.
Mr. President,
There are probably few countries like Croatia with such diversity given its triple identity due to its orientation in three directions: towards Central and South East Europe and the Adriatic. No other European state can boast of river ports on the Danube and seaports such as Rijeka and Pula that have historical significance for the Mediterranean.
From a historical viewpoint, Spain also had strong ties with Central Europe. Charles I of Spain and V of Germany should be credited for seeing and understanding Europe from different perspectives: Madrid, Brussels, Vienna or Milan. Ties with Austria-Hungary lasted long so that today’s extraordinary relations with successor states are strengthening thanks to those historical bonds. Croatian seamen and monks served the Spanish crown in the past, in areas that were very distant from each other such as the Gulf of Lepanto or Latin America.
Croatia shares a land border with three Western Balkan countries: Serbia, Montenegro, and the longest one of close to one thousand kilometres Bosnia and Herzegovina where a Bosnian-Croatian community of more than half a million people lives. It is natural that future EU enlargement to the Western Balkan countries is one of the most important issues for Croatia.
By the same token after Bulgaria’s and Romania’s accession to the EU, South East Europe has become a region close to our country with more than one million Romanians and approx. 300,000 Bulgarians.
However, perhaps Croatia’s Adriatic orientation is what is naturally linked to Spain’s Mediterranean dimension. Croatia’s recent inclusion in the group of joint interests and challenges within the European Union, the so-called “Med-9”, will only reinforce this common Mediterranean tie.
Mr. President,
The beauty of our coasts, on account of their natural resources and historical and artistic heritage, has transformed our countries into European tourist superpowers. Competition for increasing the number of visitors is relative since mostly tourists from neighbouring countries come to Croatia.
However, much greater potential for cooperation in this sector that is vital to our economies, and includes the resolution of important issues such as sustainability in these uncertain and changing circumstances, is worker shortages in a work-intensive sector, implementation of artificial intelligence in certain aspects related to the improvement of efficiency and environmental awareness among many others.
And precisely here, as I mention tourism, the Queen and I once again wish to lend our full support and express solidarity with the authorities and the Croatian society following the 2020 earthquake whose consequences are still visible here in Zagreb.
Of course, we must not forget that we, just like many other European regions, are threatened by the effects of climate change. We are pleased that Croatia joined the “International Drought Resilience Alliance”, which Spain promoted in conjunction with Senegal. Both countries in fact suffer the consequences of huge forest fires during the summer period. On the other hand, the Mediterranean area is very rich in its biodiversity that is threatened by the effects of climate change. Therefore it is great news that this year an Agreement of Cooperation has been signed by Plitvice Lakes National Park and the Lagunas de Ruidera National Park – unique in the world in terms of the similarity of the natural environment – with the goal to, among others, exchange experience related to nature conservation, mitigating and implementing climate change and forest management.
Through hydrology, the wind, and the number of hours of sun exposure at their disposal, Spain and Croatia are really eager to develop various types of renewable energy. Spanish companies are investing and administering wind farms and are planning to do the same in the solar energy sector.
There is, however, one area in which our countries are leading the way, and it relates to the biggest source of clean energy in the future: nuclear fusion, more precisely, research and development of ultra-resistant materials that enable the application of nuclear fusion in the production of electricity, and all of this in the framework of the European Union and associated states.
With this I refer to the joint IFMIF-DONES Project, the signing of which both Mr. President and I will attend tomorrow, and which represents the highlight of our visit. Spanish-Croatian cooperation in this area will open up new prospects for Europe’s self-sufficiency in clean energy.
The energy challenge is one of the greatest humankind faces, especially Europe, since its energy dependence makes it vulnerable, such as the situation we are presently living on account of Russian aggression against Ukraine.
Our two countries both within NATO and the EU, as within the UN and other international organizations, have resolutely and strongly responded to the violation of international law, offering full assistance to Ukraine. In this sense, the recent parliamentary summit of support to Ukraine held in Zagreb deserves our praise and our gratitude.
Mr. President,
I am confident that in the near future all these directions of cooperation mentioned, some already in a mature stage, others just started, and others just anticipated, will merge into an even stronger and more fruitful relationship within the European, Atlantic and Mediterranean frameworks.
I raise this glass so that it will be so, for the welfare and further development of Croats and Spaniards in the framework of our friendship and alliance, and I wish all personal happiness to Your Excellency, the First Lady and all those who are with us this evening.”
PHOTO: Office of the President of the Republic of Croatia / Tomislav Bušljeta, Filip Glas