ZAGREB, June 26, 2018 - President Kolinda Grabar Kitarović said on Monday, during a reception on the occasion of Statehood Day, that the Croatian state was not created to see that some of its regions are now being depopulated but that it could be made prosperous by work and full of life.
"This is a holiday of our national pride, the holiday that summarises the struggle of many generations of Croatian patriots for Croatia's freedom and independence," she said in her speech in which she also recalled great successes which the country has made over the 27 years since the declaration of its independence.
On June 25, 1991, the Croatian parliament proclaimed independence from the former Yugoslavia on the grounds of a referendum result which saw over 93 percent of voters in favour of independence. And it was on October 8, 1991, that Croatia finally cut ties with Yugoslavia.
Grabar-Kitarović underscored Croatia's admission to NATO and the European Union and many international organisations as successes. After citing some of the biggest achievements of the country and of its individual citizens, Grabar-Kitarović said that "many tasks are still ahead of us," and added that the citizens want a decent life in their own country.
For this to be achieved, the main prerequisites are more robust economic development and growth, social justice and the resolution of the depopulation issue. "We did not create our state only to see that some of our regions are being depopulated, but to make every part of our homeland prosperous by our work and make it full of life," she said.
The president recalled many ambitious projects, including the construction of the future Pelješac Bridge and other projects, noting, however, that the country needs more and more projects also outside the construction sector.
The president pushed for a strong positioning of Croatia in the European Union and NATO as an active stakeholder of the European togetherness and international security.
She pointed out the initiative called The Three Seas which she holds to be an excellent opportunity for cooperation and development of relations with neighbours, notably Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The president also called for nourishing stronger bonds between the homeland and Croatian expat communities worldwide.
In attendance at the reception were Parliament Speaker Gordan Jandroković, Prime Minister Andrej Plenković, cabinet ministers and other state officials and dignitaries.
