President Milanović in Dubrovnik: I expect all authorities to manage money honestly and not for their self-interest
The President of the Republic Zoran Milanović attended in Dubrovnik a special session of the Municipal Council that was held in Marin Držić Theatre on the occasion of Dubrovnik’s Municipal Day.
In congratulating the residents of Dubrovnik on their Municipal Day and the Feast of St. Blaise, President Milanović told the city leaders that he will not give them advice on how to run the city because “you yourselves know what is best for your city”. This is your responsibility, those are your people, this is your money that was created and earned here”, the President stated and wished them success in absorbing EU funds.
In this context President Milanović said that he considers the European Union a complex, deep, emotional and prospective community of national states, peoples and nations. “I wish that you absorb funds from Europe, everything else is a matter for constant debate and constant caution. Neither are we all the same, nor is it acceptable for us to impose our cultural values. They are similar, yet different. And in this diversity and awareness of being different, and within our Croatian national body, we can ensure a normal, good and respectable civic life”, President Milanović said, adding that we shall never put aside ideological differences, but that today they are perhaps fewer than ever before. “And that is good. My expectations from all authorities are to manage their own and the common goods honestly and effectively, not to use resources for their personal profit and personal interests, to be strict with themselves and responsible towards the area administered”, the President stated.
Furthermore, President Milanović commented on the inclusion of Gundulić, Držić and the literature of Dubrovnik into the Serbian Act on Cultural Legacy saying it is an example of cultural appropriation. “What is taking place in Belgrade and is a constant is cultural appropriation, it is a type of addiction, the doings of parasites. It is not an attempt to rob something because it is impossible. We should be proud that someone covets a certain thing, but cannot get it”, President Milanović said, telling Dubrovnik residents to be cool-headed and a bit arrogant in this matter.
At the end of his address President Milanović spoke about the status of Croats in Bosnia and Herzegovina: “Many of us originate from Bosnia and Herzegovina, a friendly state with which we share a border of several thousand kilometres and in which things are happening that are not good for the Croatian people and for the residents of Bosnia and Herzegovina. They do not lead to something good”, the President noted, and underlined that the Croatian political people in Bosnia and Herzegovina need our support and our solidarity. “Our support can be louder, it can be such as to make use of instruments at our disposal in the European Union and NATO, whose members we are. For years we have been listening to rebukes, complaints, advice, ultimatums, wishes and greetings from others, and we responded patiently, persistently, quietly, and did our job. Now, in this situation, we are fully aware of who and what we are, we have the right to set certain demands, quietly and in a civilized manner, without threats, but with very clear-cut positions. The person who is not ready to do this does not use the state as it can be used”, President Milanović said in concluding his address.
Attending the special session of the Municipal Council of Dubrovnik in addition to President Milanović were the president of the Municipal Council Marko Potrebica, the mayor of Dubrovnik Mato Franković, Dubrovnik-Neretva County Prefect Nikola Dobroslavić, the Minister of Culture and Media and envoy of the Prime Minister Nina Obuljen Koržinek and member of the Croatian Parliament and envoy of the Speaker of the Croatian Parliament Branko Bačić. The special session concluded with a presentation of the City of Dubrovnik award to the winners.
Prior to the special session President Milanović visited the Inter-University Centre Dubrovnik and held a meeting with the Director General of the IUC Krunoslav Pisk, executive secretary Nada Bruer Ljubišić and their associates. They discussed the activities that are taking place at this international organization of 170 universities around the world, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, and its significance for the Croatian academic and scientific community.
Alongside President Milanović were the Head of the Cabinet of the President Bartol Šimunić and the Adviser to the President for Human Rights and Civil Society Melita Mulić.
PHOTO: Office of the President of the Republic of Croatia / Ana Marija Katić