President Milanović on Maritime Days: Sea is the cradle of the Croatian medieval state and our identity
“Speak loudly in promoting your story. Everybody speaks loudly and breaks through with a story even smaller than yours. This is not only the story about Vrsi, but about Croatia, as well. Croats are a maritime Slavic nation and that is something worth taking note and thinking about. It makes us unique and we must preserve that. The sea is the cradle of our medieval state, our identity, your identity,” said the President of the Republic Zoran Milanović last night at the 5th Maritime Days in Vrsi. The festivity is dedicated to seafarers and maritime tradition of the municipality in Zadar County, held on the International Day of the Seafarer.
During his address, President Milanović emphasized that Vrsi “is a significant coastal settlement” due to having a long maritime tradition, which is insufficiently known to the general public. “The place you live in is unique. This place has a symbolism. And to this symbolism, I wish to include Vrsi, Nin, Prevlaka and Zaton. This is the cradle of Croatian identity and history. It is not the only one, but it is a very important place: a place of Grgur Ninski, a place inviting you to travel, to head far. And only the curious and intelligent people date to travel,” said President Milanović.
“I know what the sea is. You have to fear it, respect it, but also love it and yearn for it. This desire, this need to leave home, provide for a living, see the world and fend for yourself a bit, regardless of the family’s pain, is a quality of curious and interesting people,” said President Milanović, admitting he had not known enough about the history of Vrsi and that Vrsi will remain “recorded in golden letters” in his mind after this visit.
This year’s 5th Maritime Days took place from 22 to 25 June under the patronage of the President of the Republic Zoran Milanović, and were organised by “Sveti Nikola” Seafarers’ Association, the Municipality of Vrsi and Vrsi Tourist Board, with the support of the Ministry of Defence, Zadar County, Seafarers’ Trade Union of Croatia and maritime liner company Jadrolinija.
During these four days, many cultural, educational, humanitarian and music events took place, in which the organizers paid homage to seafarers and their families, and put a special emphasis on the rich maritime tradition of Vrsi.
Alongside President Milanović, the President of “Sveti Nikola” Seafarers’ Association Neven Predovan, Secretary General of the Seafarers’ Trade Union Neven Melvan, the Mayor of the Municipality of Vrsi Luka Perić, and the envoy the Zadar County Prefect, Head of the County’s Administrative Department for Maritime Domain, Sea and Transport Krešimir Laštro made an address.
President Milanović was accompanied by the Special Adviser to the President of the Republic for Economy Velibor Mačkić.
PHOTO: Office of the President of the Republic of Croatia / Ana Marija Katić