\u201cCroatia is a member of NATO; Serbia is not, and it is up to them to decide where they are headed and what they will do. But as long as our neighbouring country continues to acquire weapons systems that draw attention, every normal state will ask: what do you need them for? These are not Lego bricks \u2013 they are lethal weapons systems. And that is not all. There are also rocket launchers they purchased from our \u2018strategic allies\u2019 in Israel, who sell them to anyone. This concerns us as well, because our closest neighbour is acquiring systems that we do not currently possess. That means we will have to acquire them too. I see it as part of my job to warn about this,\u201d said the President of the Republic Zoran Milanovi\u0107 during a working visit to Montenegro, commenting on Serbian President Aleksandar Vu\u010di\u0107\u2019s reaction after President Milanovi\u0107 raised Serbia\u2019s military build-up at the NATO Summit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI was not inciting hostility against Serbia. Vu\u010di\u0107 knows that I have a great deal of understanding for Serbia \u2013 sometimes even too much \u2013 and that Croatian Serbs, of whom there are still many, voted for me, not for him. And I am a Croat. He should think about that,\u201d he added, explaining that no one at NATO reacted to his warning yesterday, \u201cbut it is my duty to say it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Speaking about the outstanding issues between Croatia and Montenegro, President Milanovi\u0107 said: \u201cSome matters still need to be resolved, but I do not see anything that constitutes a serious obstacle.\u201d \u201cThe border issue should be settled. It is clear what belongs to Croatia and what belongs to Montenegro. It is a matter of the strength and credibility of the current authorities in Montenegro to resolve it and emerge politically unscathed,\u201d he said, adding that the Montenegrin side \u201cshould make some kind of gesture\u201d regarding the Morinj camp as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Responding to a question from reporters, he also commented on the planned joint procurement of transport aircraft that Croatia had agreed with several other European Union member states. \u201cYesterday I expressed my general support for it. However, in the meantime I learned that the General Staff of the Croatian Armed Forces had raised concerns and stated that it is not the best solution. Our armed forces need something else. That is the official position of the Croatian Armed Forces, as represented by the General Staff. But the HDZ decided otherwise, and that is how things have been functioning all along,\u201d President Milanovi\u0107 warned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He confirmed that he had also discussed the matter with Minister Anu\u0161i\u0107 in Ankara. \u201cI asked him what the Croatian Armed Forces thought, and he told me: \u2018It\u2019s fine.\u2019 Then I spoke to others, and it turns out it is not fine,\u201d the President said, reiterating that \u201cthis is an example of a procurement for which I know with certainty that the General Staff expressed reservations.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe military will not object. The Government can spend money on whatever it wants. It will buy an aircraft, and we will have to contribute to the cost of maintaining it, even though we will never need an aircraft with that level of capacity. Why we opted for this, I do not know. But I speak with the military \u2013 with the people to whom I am formally superior as the Commander in Chief. I cannot stop Plenkovi\u0107 and Anu\u0161i\u0107 from buying something, but this is yet another example of money being spent in a way that is not optimal,\u201d President Milanovi\u0107 explained. He added that \u201cthe political leadership \u2013 Plenkovi\u0107 and Anu\u0161i\u0107 \u2013 should hit the brakes and hold consultations to find out why the military believes this is not a good solution.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Following the Prime Minister\u2019s sharp reactions concerning the Constitution\u2019s clearly defined provisions on Croatia\u2019s representation in the European Council, President Milanovi\u0107 said: \u201cI raised this because I will not allow constitutional powers and responsibilities to be manipulated, usurped, or stolen. The Constitution states that representing Croatia in the European Council is a responsibility shared by both the Government and the President of the Republic. It does not say that it is the private property of the HDZ and Andrej Plenkovi\u0107. It is a shared constitutional power, depending on the respective competences. Circumstances have changed: the European Council used to deal primarily with the economy; now it deals with war. Is that within the competence of the President of the Republic? Yes.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
President Milanovi\u0107 explained that this does not mean he should automatically represent Croatia in the European Council, but rather that \u201cwe should do it as we agree \u2013 but first we have to reach an agreement.\u201d \u201cThis is a matter for serious discussion between someone who has twice received a direct mandate from the citizens and someone who is the Prime Minister and has not received such a mandate, although he is the Prime Minister. Would it be fair for the President of the Republic to attend every fourth meeting when such issues are on the agenda? Once me, three times him. Or half and half. That is what the Constitution says,\u201d he said, adding that the Prime Minister \u201ccannot avoid this discussion simply because he wants to appropriate powers that do not belong to him.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cZlatko Dali\u0107 was extraordinarily successful. He became a genuine global star. The teams he led consistently finished second in the world, third in the world, and reached the UEFA Nations League final against Spain. With all due respect to everyone else, finishing second in the world is extraordinary. Those are phenomenal achievements. He is leaving crowned with glory. What he chooses to do next is his private matter. I wish him all the best and congratulate him,\u201d President Milanovi\u0107 said regarding Zlatko Dali\u0107\u2019s departure as head coach of the Croatian national football team.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
PHOTO: Office of the President of the Republic of Croatia \/ Ana-Marija Kati\u0107<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
\u201cCroatia is a member of NATO; Serbia is not, and it is up to them to decide where they are headed and what they will do. But as long as our neighbouring country continues to acquire weapons systems that draw attention, every normal state will ask: what do you need them for? This concerns us as well, because our closest neighbour is acquiring systems that we do not currently possess. That means we will have to acquire them too. I see it as part of my job to warn about this,\u201d said the President of the Republic Zoran Milanovi\u0107 during a working visit to Montenegro, commenting on Serbian President Aleksandar Vu\u010di\u0107\u2019s reaction after President Milanovi\u0107 raised Serbia\u2019s military build-up at the NATO Summit.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":44041,"template":"","news-cat":[12],"class_list":["post-44042","news","type-news","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","news-cat-news"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n