President Milanović on his opposition to NATO enlargement: In that case there would immediately be an interest for Croatia and its problems

The President of the Republic of Croatia Zoran Milanović confirmed today that, as co-creator of Croatian foreign policy, he will instruct Croatia’s Ambassador to NATO to vote against the admission of Sweden and Finland to the Alliance since Prime Minister Andrej Plenković did not accept his proposal to call a National Security Council (NSC) session in order to discuss Croatia’s position and the necessary steps to protect the rights of the Croats in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Furthermore, he announced that he will send a letter to the NATO Secretary General for all NATO members explaining why it is important for Croatia that the election law in Bosnia and Herzegovina be amended, namely the protection of the rights of Croats in that state.

“I said that Croatia must be united, this is why I proposed a meeting of the NSC. Plenković’s reasoning was the attack against Ukraine. That is not and will not be a reason for the Croatian state leadership to deliberate urgently. We can discuss that, but it is not a burning issue for us. When I propose for us to meet, which is in accordance with the Constitution and the Government does not have a monopoly on foreign policy but cooperates with the president who is directly elected by the citizens, there is no response for ten days, nothing, silence. Where can we agree? At a National Security Council session. Even if we disagree, but it has to be documented. What remains for me to do? To instruct the Croatian ambassador, and put him in an awkward position? I will write to him, and give him instructions. If he wants to keep his peace, he can step aside, and leave it up to Plenković”, President Milanović stated at a press conference called after Sweden and Finland officially applied for admission to NATO.

He announced that “he will talk about this until the last moment, and warn that the Sabor has the last word that can but is not obliged to raise their hands to ratify this process”. “That is not an act against Finland and Sweden, but it is for Croatia. In this case, there would immediately be incredible interest for Croatia and its problems. If we ratify this without firing a single shot, we will be selling our family silver, the only instrument and leverage we have at this moment to solve a serious problem that is occurring not on the Dnipro river, but on the Una river”, President Milanović added.

He further pointed out other NATO members’ positions regarding enlargement of the Alliance. “Today Finland and Sweden submitted their applications to join NATO. The North Atlantic Council met and reached no decision because Turkey is opposed at this time. I wish to draw the attention of those who do not wish to see, do not realize or are less interested in seeing how states that are concerned about their interests and their foreign policy goals make use of all available, legal instruments. Even if we do not have to agree with what they are requesting, for instance Turkey, especially from Sweden, Turkey has the right to act this way. For this reason NATO is unable to reach a decision”, he noted.

He feels that Turkey’s position is a result of nobody having discussed NATO enlargement plans with Turkey, actually “totally ignoring Ankara and at the eleventh hour the Turks say no, and we do not consider this positively”. “I do not know what will come of it, is it at all possible for Sweden to meet Turkish demands that reach deeply into the soul of Swedish foreign policy. Turkey certainly will not give up, it will not leave the table emptyhanded. Erdogan said: our people do not allow us to accept them in NATO. This is something I would never dare say either as head of state or as prime minister. This is a serious statement, they stick to it, it has repercussion. It means that Turkey will demand a hefty price for its status in NATO of which it has been a member from the start. How does Croatia act? Quite the opposite”, President Milanović warned.

Even though he considers what is happening in Sweden and Finland is not good, “on the one hand it is good for people in Croatia to see what Plenković is doing, to finally realize how serious states act”. The President underlined that “he is not against Sweden or Finland”, but in this case “it is not just an issue of cleverness on the part of the west, but of Turkish dignity” because Turkey is being treated like we are in Bosnia and Herzegovina. “Croats in BiH as a political entity, are being destroyed, and Plenković and some of his associates have been participating in this lately. We must fight for our interests”, President Milanović continued, and said that proof that Croatia is not fighting for its interests is the fact that there is still no Croatian officer in the EU mission in BiH, not even 25 years after Dayton.

“Why not? Because they do not allow us. Not one uniformed Croat, man or woman, can even come close, because we are a problem. What has the Government done? Nothing. That offends me as a Croatian citizen. Do you know who can and is there? Austria, Hungary and Turkey. States that have historically dictated all the order in Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is like that today thanks to the divisions that have arisen when they ruled. Let them be there, but what about us? Who designed this, what international law has established such an order of things and values of influence of power?”, President Milanović wondered.

He further commented on the positions of the representatives of Croats in BiH whom he called earlier to hear what they thought of his engagement for the rights of Croats in BiH. “You have seen the position of the leadership of the Croatian National Assembly (HNS). They are all for it, Dragan Čović, who is in a difficult situation, is not against it. Dragan Čović and HDZ say: ‘You come to an agreement’. Where? Within the framework of the National Security Council. That is a message for Plenković. I cannot expect anything more from Čović at this time. That is his interest and he will be the one who will have to explain to his people and voters what they discussed, did and explain every move or omission”, President Milanović stated.

He repeated that in such circumstances it is good to see “how states that are conducted by inert, selfish careerists who only think of themselves function”, alluding to Andrej Plenković. He called on Plenković to publically state whether he has political ambitions in EU institutions. “If he doesn’t, let him say so. Then I will wonder even more about what stands in the way. Why have you been hypnotizing the people in Bosnia and Herzegovina and lying to them for the past year and a half that you are fighting for them. And it doesn’t end. Even now we hear of Gordan Grlić Radman’s actions. Nobody from the international community will come here to seriously discuss with my associates, even with me, while there is a group in Banski dvori, because they know that the first, sixth and seventh columns are there. And that there are people there who only think of themselves”, President Milanović said among others, and concluded by saying that because of Plenković’s ambitions in the EU he is letting Croatia “to be dragged down the road like a prostitute as Matoš would say”.