President of the Republic Proposes National Security Council Meeting to Prime Minister

The President of the Republic Zoran Milanović has written to Prime Minister Andrej Plenković proposing convening a meeting of the National Security Council:

“Dear Mr. Prime Minister,

I am sure you will agree that last week’s attack on the police and the Government was a crime featuring possible elements of terrorism which, according to the information available so far, was triggered by radicalization in our society that leads to violent extremism. I am confident that the competent services are capable of guaranteeing the safety of the state leadership and therefore I do not see it as a problem that should be discussed in particular. However, we must consider our fellow citizens, who in circumstances of radicalization and a crisis that is felt not just in Croatia, are exposed to violence that can escalate at any point into such or similar attacks.

Dear Mr. Prime Minister, radicalization in society that leads to such crimes, in my view, poses a threat to national security. In such a situation, we are bound not just by the Constitution but also by the trust that the citizens placed in us at the elections to try and find appropriate solutions. There are issues on which we disagree, but when it comes to possible threats to national security and the well-being of our citizens, we need to talk and act jointly.

Therefore, I hereby propose convening a meeting of the National Security Council to discuss the impact of radicalization on the state of security and reach appropriate decisions within the Council’s jurisdiction.

Given the importance of this topic I am willing to set aside all the time needed as soon as possible. In our discussions we should focus not just on what had happened but primarily address common action to reduce the risk of violent extremism.”