Statement by the President of the Republic Zoran Milanović on the Military Intervention in Iran and the Escalation of the Conflict in the Middle East

“Every unilateral use of military force that violates international law and order is dangerous as it threatens peace and global security not just today, but also in the future. Military intervention without a mandate of the United Nations, as we witness today in Iran, will not contribute to the resolution of the crisis, but provokes a further escalation of the conflict and long-term instability. I particularly condemn military attacks on civilians regardless of the side these attacks originate.

The obvious intention of this military intervention, namely the change of government in Iran, can have difficult and long-term consequences for the citizens of Europe as well, which means for the citizens of Croatia too. Earlier interventions of this kind in the Middle East and the Mediterranean have shown that the consequences were felt and are still being felt by Europe. We should therefore be concerned about the risk of economic damage in the form of rising prices of oil and oil derivatives, the risk of a new wave of migrations of refugees to European countries as well as about the risk of terrorist threats, and the threat to the peace and security of the citizens of Europe. In every further action, Croatia must first and foremost take into account its citizens and their interests and security, especially since this is a conflict that it did not cause and from which it can only suffer harm.

Concerned about the safety of Croatian soldiers in missions in the Middle East, I have made the decision to withdraw seven Croatian soldiers from Iraq and one soldier from Lebanon, and I ordered the Chief of the General Staff of the Croatian Armed Forces to immediately initiate the withdrawal of Croatian soldiers.

I call upon the Government of the Republic of Croatia, in accordance with its powers, to undertake all necessary measures for the protection and repatriation of Croatian citizens who found themselves in the area of ​​military activities.”