ZAGREB, 18 May 2022 - President Zoran Milanović said on Wednesday that he would instruct Croatia's Permanent Representative to NATO, Ambassador Mario Nobilo, to vote against the admission of Finland and Sweden to the alliance until the election law in BiH is amended.

Milanović believes that Croatia should not cease making Finland's and Sweden's membership of NATO conditional on the issue of the equality of Bosnia and Herzegovina Croats in elections.

"That is not an act against Finland and Sweden but it is for Croatia," Milanović insists.

Addressing a news conference in his office, Milanović said that he believed that Croats in BiH as a political entity, are being "destroyed" and that it is in Croatia's national interest to prevent that.

He underscored that he would instruct Ambassador Nobilo to be against that membership.

The Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs last week said that in that case, Nobilo would follow the instructions of the ministry rather than the president's.

Milanović said today that Turkey, which is opposed to the two Nordic countries joining the Alliance, is showing how to fight for national interests.

"Turkey certainly will not move away from the table before it gets what it wants," said Milanović.

He believes Croatia is acting quite the opposite.

"How are we fighting for our interests?" he wondered, adding that after all the peace missions in BiH, there is not one Croatian officer there.

"Why? Because they will not allow that. Not one uniformed Croatian can step  in here."

He said that he had called for a meeting of the National Security Council because of the problem of Croats in Bosnia and Herzegovina, but that he had not received a response from the government.

"The government does not have a monopoly on foreign policy," he said.

"We can talk about Ukraine, but that is not a burning problem for us. This is," he said.

He called on the parliament not to ratify the agreement on the accession of Finland and Sweden to NATO. "I will talk about this until the last moment and warn that the Sabor has the last word."

He is convinced that that would turn the international community's attention to Croatian interests and that is the only way for Croatia to resolve this "serious problem in BiH."

If the Sabor doesn't ratify it "at that moment unbelievable interest for Croatia's problem would arise," he said.

He added that he wants to avoid any possible reaction by Bosnia and Herzegovina Croats to an unfair election law and consequently proclaim a Croat self-government in BiH.

"I want Croatian interests in BiH to be modified within the framework of the Dayton (Peace Accords)."

He rejected the prime minister and foreign minister's criticism that he was damaging Croatia's reputation.

"If I am to be blamed I am prepared to be. I have said that Croats in BiH are more important to me than the entire Russian-Finish border," Milanović underscored.

"Let's look at what Turkey is doing," he added.

"It certainly will not go empty-handed yet it is seeking a lot. While we are seeking very little in BiH, a country for which we are guarantors in the Dayton (Accord)."

For more, check out our politics section.

ZAGREB, 18 May 2022 - Croatia's Foreign Minister Gordan Grlić Radman said on Wednesday that Finland and Sweden have Croatia's unreserved support for their NATO membership bids, adding that he has instructed Croatia's Ambassador to NATO to endorse the two countries' NATO applications.

"During an informal meeting of NATO foreign ministers in Berlin last weekend I said on behalf of the Croatian government that we give our unequivocal and unreserved support to those countries," Grlić Radman told Croatian Radio.

He recalled that because of Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the consequent reconfiguration in the global order, two traditionally neutral countries have decided to seek security in NATO which guarantees that security for its member states.

"They feel threatened and are welcome in the Alliance, considering their potential, they will strengthen NATO's democratic standards and overall potential (...). Croatia's Ambassador to NATO in Brussels, Mario Nobilo, has my instructions to approve Finland and Sweden's membership application and he will be given power of attorney to sign a protocol that will follow in the next few days," Grlić Radman said, adding that "some consultations with Turkey are still under way." 

Turkey has threatened to block Sweden and Finland's accession to NATO unless they fulfil Ankara's demands. Ankara wants the two countries to stop supporting terrorist groups, primarily the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), and provide clear security guarantees as well as abolish restrictions on arms exports to Turkey.

Grlić Radman said that after their application is approved, the parliaments of NATO member states are required to ratify the relevant agreement.

"I am absolutely certain that the Croatian Sabor will ratify the agreement when it arrives from Brussels in Zagreb," he said.

Commenting on statements by President Zoran Milanović that Croatia should block the two countries' accession until such time that the election law in BiH is amended, Grlić Radman said that was "blackmail" and "un-European."

He added that the Andrej Plenković government is fighting the most for the status of the Croat people in that country.

"The rights of the Croat people are achieved through legal mechanisms, political and diplomatic efforts and not blackmail (...). The President is ruining our international reputation with his statements and causing political damage that can jeopardise our national interests," Grlić Radman added.

He reiterated that a stable BiH is a strategic interest for Croatia, underscoring that if the election law is not changed, a security problem could emerge in Bosnia and Herzegovina after the election.

"Being the smallest, the Croat people is trapped between Serb separatism and the hyper-unitarism of high-ranking Bosniaks," Grlić Radman said.

He believes that the visit by European Council President Charles Michel to Sarajevo on 21 and 22 May, who will "try to intercede," will be important.

Speaking about the sixth package of EU sanctions against Russia, Grlić Radman said that there are several countries who are opposed to an embargo on Russian oil imports due to their dependence on Russian energy products.

"The sanctions need to be felt in Russia itself and we are trying to eliminate all the negative effects that the sanctions could have on Europe's economy," he explained.

Commenting on Slovenia's possible blockade of Croatia's accession to the Schengen passport-free area, he said that he doesn't expect Slovenia "to spoil the plans."

"I hope there won't be a step backwards. We have had very good cooperation over the past two years with the Janša government. Croatia's accession to the Schengen Area is for the most part in the interest of Slovenian citizens. I am certain that we will find a common solution with our Slovenian friends," he underscored.

Asked about the fate of a Croatian citizen who joined the Ukrainian forces and has been captured by Russian troops, Grlić Radman said briefly, "It is our duty to return him home," and that the procedure requires "discretion."

For more, check out our politics section.

ZAGREB, 4 May 2022 - Parliament Speaker Gordan Jandroković said on Wednesday in Madrid that President Zoran Milanović's opposition to Sweden and Finland's accession to NATO was a blow to the unity of democratic West against Russia's aggression on Ukraine and that he had pro-Russian stances.

Jandroković was on an official visit to Madrid at the invitation of the President of the Congress of Deputies of Spain, Meritxell Batet Lamaña. 

"Being opposed today to Sweden and Finland's accession to NATO is a blow to the solidarity and alliance of the entire democratic Western world against what Russia is doing in Ukraine. That is undoubtedly a pro-Russian stance," Jandroković said.

He added that he doesn't know why that is so and that the President should be asked about that.

"But it is without a doubt that the international community is surprised by his stance and since recently has been ridiculing him," said Jandroković.

Jandroković was heading a parliamentary delegation attending a Croatian-Spanish inter-parliamentary forum in Madrid.

Speaking about Croatian-Spanish relations, he said the two countries have "deepened parliamentary cooperation."

During the forum there was talk about bilateral cooperation, however, the focus was on global issues, such as the pandemic and the Ukraine crisis, he said.

"We share the same stances about the war in Ukraine and are strongly supporting Ukraine and condemning the Russian aggression," said Jandroković.

For more, make sure to check out our dedicated politics section.

ZAGREB, 4 May 2022 - Croatian President Zoran Milanović will not be able to veto Finland's and Sweden's accession to NATO because this will be decided by the ambassadors of the member states and not by the heads of state or government, the Jutarnji List (JL) daily wrote on Wednesday.

Citing government sources knowledgeable about NATO procedures, the newspaper said that Milanović is aware that he will not be in a position to veto the two countries' membership bids because this decision will be made by the North Atlantic Council, which consists of ambassadors from the 28 member states.

Milanović is obviously aware of this because he has said that, in the event that the invitation is extended at a lower level, he might not be able to force the Croatian ambassador to take his position at the Council, Jutarnji List said.

For more, make sure to check out our politics section.

ZAGREB, 3 May 2022 - President Zoran Milanović said on Tuesday that he will veto NATO's invitation to Finland to join the alliance.

"In my capacity as the head of state representing Croatia at the NATO summit, I will veto the invitation, if it is extended at that level," Milanović told the press in Vukovar.

NATO is holding a summit in Madrid later this month.

If the invitation is sent through lower levels, he said he was not sure he would be able to make the Croatian ambassador accept his position and veto the invitation.

Deputy Chairman of the Security Council of the Russian Federation Dmitry Medvedev said in his channel in the Telegram messenger on Monday that Milanović risked Kyiv's retaliation over his views and messages about Russia and Ukraine.

In reference to Medvedev's statement, Milanović said he did not want to "bite that hook", insisting he was not taking Russia's side.

"The Russians are playing their game. They are the aggressor in this war, and we have our own clique  working actively against the interests of the Croats in Bosnia and Herzegovina. I took the oath to protect them, too, and I will die a political death for them, if necessary," said Milanović

Milanović added that he was not afraid either of Russia or of Ukraine, and claimed that he was on the Croatian side and was fighting "for the Croatian state and nation."

"We are being treated like fools and a third-class nation," he said, accusing Prime Minister Andrej Plenković of supporting all that "like a scoundrel".

Milanović reiterated his accusations against the Plenković government, claiming that it was pursuing "a treacherous policy" towards the Croats in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

ZAGREB, 1 May 2022 - President Zoran Milanović on Sunday said that any member of the Croatian parliament who votes for Finland and Sweden joining NATO prior to the election law in Bosnia and Herzegovina being amended is a traitor.

Milanović has already said on several occasions that he is opposed to Finland and Sweden joining the North Atlantic Alliance if the election law in BiH is not amended as it enables the more numerous Bosniaks to outvote the Croats in that neighbouring country.

Speaking in Varaždin where he attended a celebration of International Workers' Day, Milanović reiterated that Croatia has a "historic opportunity" to fight for BiH Croats, which is also in "Croatia's interest and not just a wild wish."

"I will label anyone who votes otherwise (for Sweden's and Finland's accession to NATO) a traitor. And I will label anyone who drinks coffee with them a traitor. There's no other way," said Milanović.

"If I were to speak sleep-inducingly as (PM Andrej) Plenković does... then no one would listen to me. This way, I am taking on the burden of being awful, of people hating me, throwing eggs at me, booing me because I am fighting for a just cause. That is my duty. I am the president and supreme commander," he added.

Rafale jets are attractive but useless

Milanović also spoke about the purchase of 12 Rafale multipurpose fighter jets from France, underscoring that they were overpaid and useless, and that France has not advocated changes to the election law in BiH.

"Where if France's assistance regarding BiH? How much needs to be paid, ten billion euros? Is a billion and a half not enough?" asked Milanović.

He believes that it would have been better for Croatia to have bought a hundred drones and strengthened its air defence. But, he said, Plenković decided personally to buy the jets that are unnecessary for Croatia and "useless" in war but good "for showing."

"What use do we have of 12 Rafales with very little equipment and very few missiles? Do you see how short a jet's lifespan is in a war if they aren't the best?" he said.

He added that Hungary, with ten to twelve interceptors, did not manage to detect a Soviet-produced drone that fell in a Zagreb suburb in March.

For more, check out our politics section.

ZAGREB, 28 April 2022 - Croatia supports Finland's and Sweden's potential NATO membership, which would strengthen Croatia's security and defence, Foreign Minister Gordan Grlić Radman said on Thursday.

"We feel that the NATO membership of Finland and Sweden will only strengthen our security and our defence," he told the press at Zagreb airport after talks with his Hungarian counterpart Peter Szijjarto, adding that all NATO member states have the same stand on that.

Grlić Radman said that his Finnish counterpart called him two days ago and his Swedish counterpart yesterday, and that he told them he supported "their future application as an important contribution to transatlantic security."

Croatian President Zoran Milanović has said that the Croatian parliament should not ratify the NATO accession of Finland and Sweden until the election law in Bosnia and Herzegovina is changed so that the more numerous Bosniaks do not elect the Croatian member of the Presidency and delegates to the House of Peoples.

According to him, Croatia must use this "historic" chance to fight for BiH Croats' rights and also solve a security issue.

Grlić Radman said today that by joining NATO, Croatia agreed to the open-door policy which envisaged that all countries that met the standards could join if they wanted to.

Szijjarto said Finland and Sweden had not yet applied for membership, but that Hungary would have a positive view if they did.

The two ministers discussed the situation in BiH, with Szijjarto saying that Hungary supported Croatia's position that the Presidency's Croat member must be elected by Croats.

He said that for BiH's stability, it was necessary to respect the will of all three constituent peoples and that Hungary did not support the political campaign and sanctions against the Presidency's Serb member Milorad Dodik.

Grlić Radman said national minorities were a strong link in Hungarian-Croatian relations and that the model of the protection of their rights in the two countries was exemplary.

Speaking of the energy situation in the wake of Russia's aggression on Ukraine, Szijjarto said energy supply was not a philosophical but a physical issue and that Hungary would pay Russian gas so that it reached Hungary.

For more, check out our politics section.

ZAGREB, 26 April 2022 - Croatian President Zoran Milanović said on Tuesday that Finland and Sweden could not join NATO before the election law in Bosnia and Herzegovina was changed.

The Croatian parliament "must not ratify anyone's accession to NATO" until that law is changed, he told the press. The accession of Finland and Sweden can be discussed, but it is "a very dangerous adventure," he added.

In the wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, next month the two countries will state their wish to join NATO, their media reported yesterday.

Milanović said that formally he could not decide on his own on their accession to NATO but called it "very dangerous charlatanism."

"As far as I'm concerned, let them join NATO... but until the issue of the election law in BiH is solved, until the Americans, the English, the Germans, if they can and want to, force (Bosniak officials) to change the election law in the next six months and give Croats their fundamental rights, the Sabor must not ratify anyone's accession to NATO."

Milanović said "we are in a terrible situation" because Bulgaria and Romania cannot join Schengen, North Macedonia and Albania cannot begin EU accession negotiations and Kosovo has not been recognised, while Finland "can join NATO overnight."

We are only asking that Finland and Sweden "tell the Americans to solve this," he said. "For me, that's a vital national interest of the Croatian state, nation and people, that BiH be a functioning state."

Milanović said he raised this issue with his French and German counterparts, but that Prime Minister Andrej Plenković, due to his function, had a lot more room for that. "But he is neglecting that consciously and cowardly."

Asked if Croats in BiH should boycott general elections in October unless the election law was changed, Milanović said he did not know at the moment. "It seems to me the feeling among Croats in BiH is that they shouldn't boycott so as not to bring into question local government."

Commenting on the victory of manager Robert Golob and his party in Sunday's parliamentary election in Slovenia, he said Slovenia had been "left-liberal" for the past 30 years.

Croatia-Slovenia relations have been "really good" in the past two years, he said, adding that this was due also to Prime Minister Janeza Janša, who was defeated in Sunday's vote.

"We have seen that Croatia-Slovenia relations have been more stable when Janša was in power, but they were not hostile when the left was in power either."

Tanja Fajon, whom Slovenian media say might be the new foreign minister, was in the past against Croatia's accession to Schengen.

"If they want to prevent Croatia's Schengen entry, okay. Croatia won't go down because of that. They will cause damage to themselves," said Milanović.

He said Croatia was ready for Schengen already in 2015, but added that it was "a political decision and torture." He also criticised the fact that Bulgaria and Romania have not yet entered Schengen, despite being in the EU since 2007.

"Slovenia will, if it looks after its interests, ask that Croatia join Schengen. If not, if will have to hire another 20,000 police officers," said Milanović, who is meeting with Slovenian President Borut Pahor later today.

For more, make sure to check out our dedicated politics section.

December 23, 2020 - The Finnish Embassy in Zagreb has been in touch - Santa Claus sends a message to Croatia

Good news from Croatia has reached the Arctic Circle. The Ambassador of Christmas has heard that Croatia is breaking records in the # AIChallenge, a sustainable gift from Finnish friends. In just one month, over 13,000 people have signed up for a free online education www.elementsofai.com/ hr that explains the basics of artificial intelligence (AI) in the Croatian language. There is a lot of talk about AI but there is not enough knowledge about it. This course aims to change that.

In his video greeting to Croatia, Santa says the world is constantly changing and it is important to keep up with this change. Santa believes that new technology, for example, is nothing to be afraid of. “It is not our future, it is already here.” At the end of the video greeting, Santa wishes everyone a Merry Christmas from his office in Rovaniemi, Finland.

“In the age of digital transformation, we all need new skills. Together, countries like Finland and Croatia can be at the forefront of change if we continue to educate ourselves”, says Ambassador of Finland to Croatia, Risto Piipponen. A year ago, at the end of Finland’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union, the Finnish Government gave a sustainable Christmas gift to all European citizens – the Elements of AI, a free online course in artificial intelligence designed by the University of Helsinki and Reaktor, a Finnish technology company. The aim is to encourage everyone, regardless of age or educational background, to learn the basics of AI and strengthen the digital competence of EU citizens.

The Croatian language version was launched a month ago and today, over 13,000 Croatian citizens have already signed up. ”The Embassy of Finland in Zagreb wants to thank the dynamic and future-driven partners that contributed to this project's success: CroAI, University of Zagreb, 404 agency – and Croatian public for accepting the gift with such enthusiasm, interest and joy”, said Ambassador Piipponen.

Latest update, August 17, 2020: Today, we've received confirmation from the Embassy of Finland that the changes announced last week will, in fact, not be happening: 

Old rules still valid, i.e. a recommendation to self-isolate if you return to Finland e.g. from Croatia. @THLresearch is preparing a so-called traffic light model that will communicate to travelers what measures are likely to be taken when arriving to ??. https://t.co/H24czqcefC

— Finland in Croatia (@FinEmbCroatia) August 17, 2020

August 11, 2020 - In a totally unexpected and somewhat weird twist, the Embassy of Finland to Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the Holy See announced today that Finland will introduce a mandatory 14-day quarantine and obligatory COVID-19 testing for travelers coming to Finland from Croatia. 

In a tweet post an hour or so ago, the Embassy explains the decision just a little bit further (see below): 

Huom! Obs! Pažnja! Please note!✈️?? #COVID19FI pic.twitter.com/dbhOdzlfnB

— Finland in Croatia (@FinEmbCroatia) August 11, 2020

It is unclear how or why the decision has been made now, as Croatia is decidedly not on high-risk lists created by most European countries (and we've extensively written about the epidemiological situation in Croatia being quite good and improving in the last weeks). No further detail on the decision are currently available, so we don't know much more. One thing we can tell you is that, if you're planning on going to Finland soon, and you're currently in Croatia or Bosnia and Herzegovina (we can't confirm at this moment which additional countries will be placed on the Finnish high-risk list), you should consider that move as soon as possible. The Embassy said in their vague tweet that more information should be known before the end of this week. 

Before this decision, Croatia was listed as one of the non-Schengen countries, for which "Self-quarantine is recommended for those arriving in Finland."

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