President Milanović: I will not allow daily politics in the barracks
“After deliberating and based on my experience to date, I have decided that for the time being no statements will be made on the barracks premises, which are after all special sites. I want them to be protected from daily politics, which has been hard to achieve lately. The minister did not show up at the last minute. His attendance was announced and even to a child it became clear that it was a manoeuvre aimed at manipulating everyone – it wasn’t the first nor the last time,” President Milanović said in a statement to the press in front of the 132nd Croatian Army Brigade Barracks in Našice, where he attended a send-off ceremony for troops participating in the KFOR mission.
“At events such as this, which are above all for the military and people who are leaving for duty, there simply shouldn’t be daily politics,” the President added, clarifying that press statements can be given, if needed, outside the barracks. The President told journalists that only he spoke at the send-off for the 130 members of the military who are going on a mission to Kosovo and that this would have been the case even if the minister had come.
“Even if he had come, he would not have addressed the event and he will not make any speeches at least until he reinstates Colonel Burčul in the system. We are again back to square one. I do not allow the oppression of the army and anger to be vented on officers for the wrong reasons, just as Pilatus aircraft fly for the wrong reasons. This should take place outside the barracks premises. You are not deprived of any information. This is an army barracks and I will not allow daily politics, Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) members and their petty intrigues inside. If necessary you will stay outside, you will get a statement. The minister announced his attendance and then, as a petty thief, didn’t come, leaving his own people in the lurch, just as he left colonels and generals in the lurch, threatening and demanding their resignations,” said President Milanović, explaining his decision not to let journalists cover the Croatian contingent send-off ceremony in the barracks.
“I don’t know what his colleagues who go through toll booths think about his flights. He flies urgently and announces the flight one day earlier. And then he’s not even in the flight manifest. But luckily, ultimately you cannot cheat. And then he issues a statement saying he did everything at the invitation of the Air Force. They called the Commander of the Air Force from the Cabinet, without any written trace, sidestepping the Chief of the General Staff. Everything was taken care of by phone so he would not have to write a decision for himself and then in the press statement it says that it was done at the invitation of the Air Force. Where is the proof of that? He flew urgently to Tisno where his dad has a summer home, so his lamb wouldn’t get cold, and he announced an urgent flight one day earlier. If that doesn’t bother his colleagues, then I don’t care. But it can’t happen without a written trace, which he insists on when I am the one in question. It’s awful what he’s doing,” said President Milanović, commenting on information that last summer Minister Banožić flew on a Croatian Air Force aircraft from the coast to Zagreb and back.
The President further talked about the impending signing of the contract to procure French fighter jets: “In a few days Banožić’s signature will be on the contract for the procurement of fighter jets worth billions. We’re beginning to behave as if the French are doing us a favour. What about other needs? The armoured fighting vehicles for the infantry have been stricken out overnight, without any explanation, the generals weren’t told anything. For example, it’s like not going to the dentist for years, you have a defect, you can’t have the most expensive treatment each year, it’s simply a methodical approach to work that some HDZ members don’t succeed in because they didn’t live like that and didn’t get the education. You see what methodology is, the army records everything”.
President Milanović also commented on Saturday’s protest, condemning the attack against journalists. “The attack on journalist Latković is stupid, journalists have to go out in the field. I condemn this. However, a small number of people were involved”. Asked whether he considers himself responsible, he replied sarcastically: “Of course, I am red Zoki, I hate Croatia and that’s my mission. What kind of question is that?”
As for the reasons for the protest, President Milanović stated: “This repression is of unreal proportions, it’s unconstitutional, immoral from the outset. And when did I first talk about this? I waited and watched. What’s happening at this moment is coming from some circles in Europe, it’s coming from some dumbbells in Brussels, there’s none of this in Scandinavian countries, in Great Britain, or in the United States. What do such actions accomplish besides harassing people? No one has spoken to the generals in terms of there being no entry into the barracks without a COVID certificate. There are people who do not want to get vaccinated or tested. It’s not clear to me, but which genius has studied how this impacts the combat readiness of our healthy soldiers. What about human rights? This was chaotic, a spontaneous revolt”.
The President also referred to the new measures and the situation in the healthcare system. If the point is to prevent the virus, that’s impossible. But if the point is to ease the burden on hospitals, then the President wonders why was nothing done in the past year and a half to be ready. “A week ago Hranj received a Government decision to pitch tents in front of the hospital in Dubrava. Why are there no containers? Because they’re in Banija. Why are they in Banija? Because they’re needed. Why are they needed? Because nothing is being done! To whom should I address these questions? Why did we not prepare for this stress? It’s inhumane to divide people between those who are vaccinated and those who are not, this is a totally primitive philosophy. What’s the difference? If the vaccine indeed protected health, and it does, if it would prevent the spread of the virus, therefore viral vector-based vaccines, then I’d say ok, let’s go toward full vaccination. However, the decisions aren’t made by science, it’s an impulse coming from somewhere”, he said.
Regarding the lockdown in Austria, President Milanović said that it’s a disaster. He announced that his Office will call the Austrian ambassador for talks: “Today, the Austrian ambassador will be called so that we can express our deep concern for fundamental human rights in Austria. That’s how things are done, our ambassadors are always called for some stupidities, so we’ll call theirs too”.