Christmas Greetings from the President of the Republic of Croatia Zoran Milanović

Dear fellow citizens, Croats in the Homeland and around the world, and especially those of you in Bosnia and Herzegovina,

I wish you all a Merry Christmas!

Today, as the President of the Republic and as your fellow citizen, I would like to wish you peaceful and joyful Christmas holidays, in keeping with the centuries-old traditions of our people and the entire Christian world.

However, the times and the world we live in are neither peaceful nor joyful.

This Christmas, we will celebrate under the shadow of growing insecurity, rising threats of violence and war, and an uncertain future.

What worries me most is that, in these uncertain and threatening global circumstances, I see and feel divisions, mutual accusations, and a growing lack of trust even within our own Homeland.

My primary duty as President is to ensure the security and stability of Croatian society and the state.

It is my responsibility to ensure that all Croatian citizens – regardless of their nationality, religion, or political views – can live, work, raise their families, and plan their future peacefully and without worry.

Christmas celebrates an event that brings peace to people of good will, reminding us of the importance of kindness and mutual respect.

This is the right moment for us to reflect: Are we truly doing good for our families, our friends, our fellow citizens, and our Homeland?

Croatia is beautiful, as our national anthem says, because of its diversity – not only in terms of nature, but also in its customs, traditions, and way of life.

These diversities are deeply and permanently embedded in our small but proud nation.

I am convinced that it is these very diversities that have made us stronger and more resilient to all threats.

History teaches us – especially recent history – that Croatia was at its strongest when it was united, free from unnecessary divisions and mutual distrust.

Let us not allow divisions, even in times of peace, to jeopardize the stability and security we have worked so hard to achieve.

The values of our Republic are enshrined in our Constitution, and each individual has a duty to uphold them. Only by doing so can we preserve the safe, peaceful, and democratic future of Croatia.

This is particularly important today, when the global order is shifting dramatically before our eyes, when power and brute force are becoming the norm in international relations, and when small nations and states are not only expected to obey but to do so in a way that borders on submission.

The Croatian people have always known – and I am sure they still do – what to do in such a situation: to care for themselves and their interests, to protect the future of their children, while remaining benevolent and honest toward others.

As we anxiously await good news from around the world, I sincerely hope that reason and peace will prevail.

Above all, and this is my greatest Christmas wish, I hope that unity and mutual understanding will prevail among the Croatian people.

To all Christian believers, I wish you a heartfelt Merry Christmas.

To everyone in Croatia, I wish you peace and happiness during this Christmas season, spending joyful moments with your families and friends.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!