President Milanović: Defense Council Session Necessary for Functioning and Financing of Armed Forces
The President of the Republic Zoran Milanović has confirmed on Tuesday that he sent a proposal to the Prime Minister to convene a Defense Council session. Since the Prime Minister has publicly stated that he accepts the proposal, but at the same time proposes a session of the National Security Council, President Milanović explained that he too would send a proposal for a NSC meeting to be held by the end of the year. “However, a Defense Council session should definitely be held before the budget is adopted because of answers to many questions dealing with the functioning and financing of the Armed Forces, the Croatian Army. Something that is even more important than planes”, President Milanović told the press in Duga Resa.
Asked what worries him most about the Croatian Armed Forces, he replied planning, money and equipment. “This is something that must be secured by the executive authority since the military cannot talk about it in public, but they tell me, and I tell those who make the decisions every chance I get. However, there is no reaction, therefore it has to be operatively raised to a higher level”, the President stated. “The National Security Council of course, ultimately an annual plan is adopted, finances are secondary. The army is a priority, it is a good thing that the Prime Minister has reacted in a good way, promptly and positively,” he noted.
Asked how the meeting will look after all what has been said, he replied: “It won’t look good. In fact between correct and so-so normal relations between me and Plenković is an immature decision by the Defense minister to give full vent to his frustrations on a deserving colonel. This has to be eliminated, and as long as I am Commander in Chief such things shall not happen. A minister cannot force someone into retirement because he dislikes him. I won’t respond with countermeasures, that’s not the way. Politics are not conducted on the backs of soldiers, generals. I will solve the issue of the commander of my Honourary and Protection Battalion, and the person who will be in charge in another way, militarily, by command. Between normal relations, and we need good relations, a junior minister has set himself as some sort of kamikaze. Plenković has to solve this”, President Milanović stated.
Asked if he could continue cooperating with Minister Banožić, he replied: “He’s irrelevant. It’s expected that Plenković will solve this issue. This is a reflection of the relations in the HDZ, those are the messages sent on the backs of soldiers and within the HDZ”.
Referring to the military helicopters, President MIlanović said that in general he is worried about the restoration and maintenance of technical equipment, especially aircraft that are dangerous. “Unfortunately, we have a systemic problem with these aircraft because the recovery lasts long. However, these aircraft have ended up Croatia as Russian debt payment. The decision on the procurement of those aircraft was sensible at that time. The rest is in the hands of the State Attorney’s Office (DORH)”, he said, commenting on the information that Croatian State Prosecutor’s Office for the Suppression of Organized Crime and Corruption (USKOK) is investigating a complaint about the restoration of the helicopters.
Asked about the appointment of the commander of the Honourary and Protection Battalion, President Milanović replied: “I am Commander in Chief and it is known who is who in the military. It definitely is not the Minister of Defense, neither one of them, especially not a party member. Everything the law says or doesn’t say, omits saying, is prescribed by the Constitution. There cannot be two Commanders in Chief. But the Government handles the money, why there is none of this of that. Politics and the Ministry are responsible for that”.
“I don’t see a problem in the Croatian Air Force, because they work with what they have. First of all I see their work and dedication. They have to be given conditions to work in. What we are procuring now is good, big and expensive. If you’re the minister and chief military commanders and I tell you something ten times, then you react. Since the minister is not capable of doing it, for example not being capable of finding urinals for a military skyscraper, then we will discuss it with the Prime Minister because only he can resolve it. Someone’s personal frustrations cannot have an effect on relations in the army. If you hear that the Commander in Chief is requesting something, then you do it. If not, then you go to war”, President Milanović stated.