President Milanović in Livno: No state more than Croatia wants Bosnia and Herzegovina to join the European Union
The President of the Republic of Croatia Zoran Milanović attended in Livno, Bosnia and Herzegovina, a ceremony marking the 30th anniversary of the defense of Livno and the Livno field.
He began his address by proposing to the hosts that at their next gatherings the European Union’s anthem “Ode to Joy” be played after the national anthems of Bosnia and Herzegovina and of the Republic of Croatia. “Show who you are, what your aspirations, goals, plans and ideas are. That they are pure, clear, and that they have no hidden agendas”, President Milanović said.
“No state more than Croatia wants Bosnia and Herzegovina to join the European Union. For sentimental reasons, and if you wish, purely selfish reasons, because selfishness is an important element in the path of a nation. I’m doing a lot of things since from my position of president, it’s in the interest of the community I represent”, he told the gathering.
The President of the Republic also referred to the proposal to sign a letter of the presidents of Eastern and Central European states immediately granting Ukraine EU candidate status, underlining: “I say – fine, but not without Bosnia and Herzegovina. I know that questions will be raised about the motives of my messages in Livno, but believe me when I say that Zagreb is pushing harder for Bosnia and Herzegovina’s perspective than a big part of Sarajevo. Don’t forget it, this is important to us. This represents a security and emotional issue to us. Be unique to the extent that Croats in Croatia can’t and perhaps don’t have to be. We’re safe and we wish to transfer this security to you as a gift from the heart, not a loan, but something that is our mutual interest”.
“Every euro offered by the European Union to Croatia is a euro that we must spend in order to provide better wages for our teachers, professors and pharmacists as well as help you since this Europe is not helping you in such a constellation, it’s doing you harm. Croatia never had more peaceful, peace-minding and effective instruments at its disposal to help not just the Croats in Bosnia and Herzegovina, but the Serbs and Bosniaks as well”, President Milanović noted.
“Thirty years ago thanks to the courage and skills of a few individuals, the Croatian Bosnia and Herzegovina, the European Bosnia and Herzegovina was defended and in a certain way – despite the Sarajevo truce being already in force – the Croatian coast too. This is something Croatia can’t forget”, President Milanović stated, greeting those in attendance who in 1994-1995 fought the battles, “those are the people who were here when it was hardest and we all owe them gratitude because it was a joint Croatian effort”.
“Now agreements await you, not battles, not all is lost. I will do everything so that not all is lost, so that you are represented by the people you elect because democracy, forcing democracy down someone’s throat ends up like in Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria, in all those states and societies that aren’t ready. You can’t skip certain things in development, because it’s not good for you. Bosnia had a war and Croatia had a war, some things don’t happen overnight. Had there not been a war, Croatia would be one of the most developed new EU members. We are where we are, strong enough to help you, strong enough to respect others. Long live a European Bosnia and Herzegovina!, the President of the Republic said in concluding his address in Livno.
Addressing the gathering at the special session besides President Milanović were the mayor of Livno Darko Čondrić and the chairman of the House of Peoples of the Parliamentary Assembly of Bosnia and Herzegovina and president of the Croatian National Council Dragan Čović. Alongside President Milanović were the Adviser to the President of the Republic for Defense and National Security Dragan Lozančić and the Special Adviser to the President for Homeland War Veteras Marijan Mareković.
PHOTO: Office of the President of the Republic of Croatia / Marko Beljan