President Milanović to Croatian Emigrants in New York: Croatia will not be a puppet
The President of the Republic Zoran Milanović, together with his spouse, Prof. Dr. Sanja Musić Milanović, met with Croatians living in New York on Sunday.
“Croatia is in the European Union and NATO, which is a positive development, but it must not mislead us into turning our gaze away from our real interests even for a moment. Anyone who says otherwise and fantasizes about some kind of centralized Europe is not speaking rightly and is not telling the truth. Europe is not a state, and in such a state, I, as a Croat, do not want to live,” said President Milanović to members of the Croatian community gathered at the Croatian Center in the parish of Saints Cyril and Methodius and Saint Raphael in New York.
“Croatia is a state of four million people. Having a state of four million people is an extraordinary achievement. The Croatian state is a combination of the courage and heart of the Croatian people who built it. The Croatian state is not merely a small block in the European Union. I am not disappointed with what the European Union has become, because it is within my expectations, and for us, it is only a means to an end,” emphasized President Milanović.
He added that if and when Europe becomes a large centralized state, Croatia will no longer have a place there. “We have experience with such structures. Brussels should not become a center where everything and all sorts of things get mixed in, and in the end produces nothing,” said the President. “We should focus on Croatia’s interests. We are loyal, reasonable, sincere, and we do not act behind anyone’s back, but we will not be puppets. We must not allow anyone to manipulate our interests, but we must know how to define them clearly,” stated the President of the Republic.
In his address, President Milanović also commented on the position of Croats in Bosnia and Herzegovina, stressing that he does not agree that “things were not defined clearly enough in Dayton.” “The problem is that they are clearly defined, but there is theft, minor theft, and seizure. It would be a smaller problem if they were unclear, requiring additional consultations and discussions. Simply put, Croats are being deprived of their rights, while being expected to be loyal citizens. This people must be given the right to elect their own representatives,” said President Milanović.
Before the meeting, he spoke with Fr. Lovro Šimić in the parish hall of the church and, together with his spouse, attended Holy Mass. The Croatian parish of Saints Cyril and Methodius and Saint Raphael is the center of religious and cultural life for the Croatian community in New York and surrounding areas. It has been active since 1974, is led by Croatian Franciscans, and makes a significant contribution to preserving the Croatian language, culture, and traditions in this part of the United States, bringing together Croats from four states – New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, and Pennsylvania.
President Milanović traveled to New York to participate in the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly, which begins on Monday with a commemoration of the UN’s 80th anniversary. The President’s address to the UN General Assembly is scheduled for Wednesday.
PHOTO: Office of the President of the Republic of Croatia / Marko Beljan