President Milanović Comments on Drug Abuse among Soldiers: It is harmful, a delict and will be punished
“Unfortunately these things happen, especially in such a period of psychological distress after a year and a half of isolation and living in abnormal circumstances. Soldiers are people like everyone else, they have families, they have their problems, and some have their debts. I know a lot about the recent tragedies and I will wait a little longer before I give my judgment on the possible causes of such tragic events, not only when it comes to soldiers,” President Zoran Milanović said in his statement to the media on Tuesday in Varaždin, commenting on the cases of suicide in the armed forces.
The President of the Republic emphasized that he is keeping an eye on all such cases and being regularly briefed by the Chief of the General Staff of the Croatian Armed Forces and army commanders, adding that he believes there is no causal link between the cases, “but there might be a link to some elements of social pathology and disorders which exist within and outside the army.”
Asked about soldiers caught using illegal drugs, which the media also reported on recently, the President said that was a more complex case and he wouldn’t comment on it for the time being.
Asked whether it is normal or a disgrace for the army, President Milanović replied: “Let’s wait for the investigation to be over. It’s awkward. It’s a disgrace and a disaster when soldiers commit war crimes, but the Croatian army didn’t do that, only exceptionally and long ago. It’s a deviance in life for which one is naturally held accountable and it has consequences. One who behaves like that will be held accountable. Of course it’s not normal; it is harmful, it is a delict and will be punished.”
Regarding the announced constitutional complaints of businesspeople in response to measures related to vaccinations against the coronavirus in Croatia, President Milanović reiterated that from the first day of such a crisis he would have Parliament involved, where necessary, with a two-thirds majority, and pointed out that if such support existed the problems we have now would be much smaller. “Now we would not be threatening people that they will be denied this or that, that they will be punished or fired in order to vaccinate as many people as possible. People, get vaccinated,” President Milanović underscored.
“Once again, I call on everyone, get vaccinated! I am repeating this every day and keep asking me, but in the moment when there are more vaccines than those interested, there are to be no more restrictions. Let’s give that moment some thirty more transitional days. After that it’s over. To conclude, think about yourself, get vaccinated! Don’t ‘think about others’. When you get vaccinated you protect yourself, you can’t go beyond that. We are entering the space of elementary human freedoms and I do not want a police state! From the beginning, I have been saying what should be done in a democratic state governed by the rule of law and human freedoms, and that has not been done. And now that we’ve gotten to the point where whoever wanted did get vaccinated, now we’re starting to threaten people. I am against that because it is contrary to the spirit and content of the Croatian Constitution, which they did not abide by when they should have. From the outset, it is a very clear and accurate impression that this is being manipulated for political purposes in the interest of one political group and that is a fact. It is clear to everyone in Croatia,” concluded President Milanović and added: “Without threats, without methods of coercion, get vaccinated, protect yourself. By protecting yourself you are not selfish, you have protected others, you have given them an incentive to get vaccinated, and they will decide for themselves. Otherwise – tyranny.”
PHOTO : Office of the President of the Republic of Croatia / Dario Andrišek