President of the Republic in Sinj: Instead of dividing us, let language and history connect us

08. August 2021.
21:05

Accompanied by his wife Sanja Musić Milanović, the President of the Republic of Croatia Zoran Milanović attended today the 306th Alka of Sinj, a centuries-old traditional tournament of the Sinj region, which was held this year under the auspices of the President of the Republic.   

After debutant Mihovil Župa was declared the winner of the 306th Alka of Sinj at the end of the tournament, President Milanović congratulated and presented a gift to him. The President then addressed the spectators.

“Distinguished guests, people of the Cetina region, Alkars, dear champion: This place was often a rostrum for internal political affairs. I don’t want this to ever be the case again. I am addressing my fellow citizens – these days we are celebrating great Croatian war victories, which all came simultaneously in some way, as if fate wanted it,” said President Milanović, recalling the historical path of the glorious and rich tradition of the Alka of Sinj, which left a deep mark on the character, soul and destiny of all the people of this region.

“We live in modern times and I am extremely pleased to see that all five thousand people are here, as in the good old days, as was the case three years ago. And let all these misfortunes – regardless of what they are and what really happened, and we have yet to find out and comprehend that – let them never be repeated,” said the President, also recalling that Croatia was defended by its heroes, defenders, a few good, right people.

In his address at the Alka of Sinj tournament, President Milanović also said: “Today, unfortunately, we must mention that from the neighbouring country of Bosnia and Herzegovina there are requests for launching an investigation and issuing indictments against the entire Croatian military leadership from 1995, against all those who were not in Split.” In that context, the President mentioned late Generals Petar Stipetić and Imra Agotić, and Generals Marijan Mareković and Pavao Miljavac and Admiral Davor Domazet Lošo, questioning whether today is a good occasion to be mentioning this. “It is a good occasion. We have a problem and we must discuss it with our neighbours, but the Croatian state will not allow things like this to happen 25 years after the war.”

The President asserted that Croatia wants peace and respect in relations with its neighbours. “We speak almost the same language, we call it differently but the differences are very small. Let that language and history connect us instead of dividing us,” said President Milanović, concluding his speech with a verse from a poem by Petar Preradović.

“I believe that he was also talking about the language that connects: Kao vječno more sinje u kretu si gipkom, lakom, podaje se dahu svakom i mreška se i propinje, kakva moć je vjetra koga šumi, zvoni, zuji, zveči, šumi, grmi, tutnji, huči – to je jezik roda moga! People of the Cetina region, all the best until next year, and hopefully we’ll come in even greater numbers. Special thanks to the Alkars, the knights, because those who were never on horseback, let alone held a spear, do not know how difficult this is. It may not be for an Olympic medal, but it deserves deep respect. Mihovil, all the best,” concluded President Milanović. 

PHOTO: Office of the President of the Republic of Croatia / Ana Marija Katić