President Milanović: Europe today is led by people to whom peace and cooperation are not a priority
“At all times, we must be careful and look at what’s good for Croatia, look at what can cost us, and look at what can harm us. Because Europe is being led by all sorts of people and at the moment, it seems to me that peace and cooperation are not a priority for them. There is a lot of coercion, a need for domination, and for lecturing to everyone all over the world. People don’t like that, especially people from other cultures, different religions, different skin colours. And that’s why I say that we must fully consciously and selflessly stick to our own,” said the President of the Republic Zoran Milanović at the ceremonial session of the Municipal Council of the Municipality of Brdovec held today on the occasion of the Municipality Day.
The President added that Croatia had been in large systems before, such as the Habsburg Monarchy, in which it “both received and gave, but fought all the time for its own”. “But we saw who it was dealing with because that someone was there. In the end, it wasn’t that bad, it wasn’t ideal, but we had a clear position”, added the President, emphasizing that a comparison with everything we have today is not possible. “Today, we are in a much larger system from which we receive something, but we also gave something in order to receive it. And we gave a lot with the aim and hope that it would bring us good. And as long as it brings us good, as long as it fills our pockets, as long as we can develop from it – that is a good thing. But we must constantly measure and calculate, not get carried away by grand ideas that will unite everyone and make Europe one state. It’s not that there is something wrong with that, but it is a dangerous delusion that can only lead to war”, believes President Milanović.
“You are building for young people. I see people moving into Brdovec. This is a new time for this region that will – I am convinced – develop with all the challenges that are not so serious and scary, because here people lead a mostly peaceful and organized life. That has always been the case and stick to it. You have Slovenians on the other side of the border who are our most normal neighbours. With such neighbours you can work, develop, do business and negotiate normally,” said President Milanović in his address to the citizens of the Brdovec Municipality.
Finally, the President said that “the European money should be allocated as much as possible.” “Spend it on schools, kindergartens, and sewers. These are all necessary and nice things, but there is no added value or direct development from that,” concluded President Milanović.
Apart from President Milanović, the President of the Municipal Council of Brdovec Damir Slavnović, and the Mayor of Brdovec Municipality Alen Prelec addressed the ceremonial session, as well as the Mayor of Zaprešić Željko Turk, who addressed the ceremonial session on behalf of Zagreb County and all other local and regional units of self-government.
President Milanović was accompanied by his Adviser for local and regional self-government relations Nikša Peronja.
PHOTO: Office of the President of the Republic of Croatia / Tomislav Bušljeta