President Milanović Warns: Foreign warships should not be allowed into Croatia without Parliament’s consent
“Without a decision by the Croatian Parliament, I would not allow foreign warships into Croatia, especially not those coming from areas of operations and active military activities,” President Zoran Milanović said today, commenting on the entry of a U.S. warship into Dubrovnik’s waters.
“These are ships coming from war operations that were not approved by the UN Security Council – operations that Croatia has nothing to do with. And they are arriving three days after the American secretary said that we are within range of Iranian missiles,” added President Milanović, emphasizing that when it comes to warships, “we are dealing with only one country and the interests of only one country.”
He described the warship as “a large barracks in the shell of a ship” and reminded that, under the Constitution, any entry of foreign soldiers into Croatia is subject to a decision by Parliament.
“First I wanted to refrain from commenting – let the Government resolve this. However, it is absolutely clear that this is not within the Government’s jurisdiction; it is an unconstitutional competence. We have had a Maritime Code for over 20 years that regulates this, yet it should not regulate the entry of foreign ships at all. Above that law is the Constitution, which clearly states that any entry of a foreign army, even an allied one, is subject to ratification, that is, approval by the Croatian Parliament, with the prior consent of the President – and only upon the Government’s proposal. So, all three highest bodies are interconnected, and the intention is shared responsibility. I am not inserting myself into that chain of command,” explained President Milanović.
He added that the Croatian Parliament “as the supreme representative body of all Croatian citizens should take an interest in its jurisdiction.” “A few thousand soldiers are entering a Croatian port, into internal waters. What is the difference between that and the situation described in Article 7 of the Croatian Constitution, which states that the entry of a foreign army into Croatia must be approved by the Croatian Parliament? We have a completely unconstitutional law,” the President believes.
President Milanović also commented on USKOK’s investigation into the Croatian Olympic Committee over suspicions of misappropriation of funds. “Obviously, until now they have had no interest, or they pretended not to see it. I cannot say anything more; I have no insight into these matters and do not know how it functioned. It is known that in some sports very little money circulates, and in others somewhat more, and that the origin of this money is both public and private sponsorship funds, which should likewise be inaccessible to private hands. The State Attorney’s Office is not tasked only with protecting the budget, but also with protecting society and the community from all illegalities. I see no priorities here,” said President Milanović.
When asked by reporters to comment on U.S. President Trump’s call for partners to help address the situation in the Strait of Hormuz, President Milanović said: “How can we help correct someone else’s brilliant planning? There was a Croatian officer, a military attaché in London, at the first meeting, and as far as I am concerned – and it does concern me – no one else will go. Now it is expected that something the Americans could not resolve with their 12-13 destroyers should be handled by German cruisers,” the President replied.