Speech by President Milanović at a State Dinner in honour of Their Majesties Spanish King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia
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!