ZAGREB, July 4, 2019 - President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović said on Thursday on the green border in Rakovica, 120 kilometres southwest of Zagreb, that she expected the European Union to realise that the Union was defended on the Croatian border and that she expected a positive opinion on Croatia fulfilling Schengen criteria.

The president held a working meeting in Slunj with the Armed Forces Chief-of-Staff Mirko Šundov and local government and police officials to discuss the situation and problems of illegal migration, after which she inspected the border with Bosnia and Herzegovina with Interior Minister Davor Božinović.

"Croatia, as the EU's external border, cannot allow illegal entries, and our primary and absolute objective is to protect national interests, protect the population on our side of the border," Grabar-Kitarović said, thanking the police for their efforts in such a difficult and dangerous job.

Local authorities said that there had been no incidents concerning migrants and Grabar-Kitarović commended the police for their cooperation.

Minister Božinović said that there was coordination between all stakeholders, local authorities and public institutions, noting that the police, along with the army, were ranked second highest with regard to citizens' trust.

He said that accusations against police behaviour were the result of unsatisfied migrants who cannot proceed further after crossing thousands of kilometres and added that "Croatia is a sovereign state with professionally trained people in the police and army and other constituents of homeland security."

"We have solutions for every challenge and situation. According to surveys, Croatia is one of the safest countries in the EU, but it has the most challenging, most complex, and longest land border in the EU. But with people like this we have nothing to fear," said Božinović.

The President added that she would intensify talks with colleagues in the EU and European Commission because newly-appointed members of the Commission need to be informed of these problems because they aren't just Croatia's problems but the EU's too.

"It is in our interest for Bosnia and Herzegovina and other countries in southeast Europe to enter the EU as soon as possible because that would resolve the pressure of migrants to some extent, but until then it is necessary to invite EU officials to come out into the field to talk with residents on the Croatian side and see what the conditions on the Bosnian side are like," she said, adding that Croatia did not want to become a "hot-spot" for migrants.

"I expect a positive opinion on Croatia fulfilling Schengen criteria, which is nearing completion, and for us to enter the Schengen Area and then for all of the EU and Frontex to be involved here even though, for now, Croatian police forces are sufficient, with the technical support we have, to protect the Croatian border," she said.

She said that Croatia would continue to fulfil the criteria for membership of the Schengen Area and expected the EU's assistance with funding for the Schengen Area and border protection.

More news about the migrant crisis can be found in the Politics section.

ZAGREB, July 4, 2019 - Croatian President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović has written to a group of Croat residents of the northwestern Bosnia and Herzegovina town of Bihać, telling them that Croatia has been closely following the migrant crisis in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Sarajevo-based Dnevni Avaz daily said on Thursday.

Bosnia and Herzegovina Foreign Minister Igor Crnadak confirmed to the daily that the Croatian president replied through his ministry to a letter by four Bihać residents who asked her in a letter to intervene over a decision by town authorities to set up a new migrant centre in Vučjak, only ten kilometres from the border with Croatia.

The four Bihać residents believe this move jeopardises the few remaining Croats living in villages close to Vučjak.

In her reply, Grabar-Kitarović said that she and Croatian authorities were following developments in the area of Bihać and that she had forwarded the letter to the Croatian ministries of foreign and internal affairs for further action.

The Croatian president did not specify what the two ministries would do with regard to the situation in the neighbouring country.

The largest number of migrants who illegally enter Bosnia and Herzegovina and attempt to reach the Western Europe via Croatia have been staying in the northwestern Una-Sana Canton and the towns of Bihać and Velika Kladuša, close to the border with Croatia.

As two migrant centres opened in downtown Bihać have become overcrowded, two months ago the town authorities decided to set up a new migrant centre at Vučjak, seven kilometres from the town centre.

A large number of migrants are staying there in a tent settlement in poor conditions and the EU has said that it will not finance it because the settlement does not meet even the most basic conditions for normal functioning considering that it is located in rugged terrain and is close to areas believed to be infested with mines and even lacks running water.

The head of the Delegation of the EU in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Lars-Gunnar Wigemark, has suggested that the country should consider the model used by Serbian authorities which have distributed migrants evenly in 18 centres across the country.

Representatives of Bosnia and Herzegovina will discuss this dispute with EU officials in Brussels on July 17.

The EU has said that this year it will set aside slightly less than 15 million euros for Bosnia and Herzegovina to deal with the migrant crisis.

More news about the migrant crisis can be found in the Politics section.

ZAGREB, June 30, 2019 - Croatian President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović said on Saturday that it was up to the relevant state institutions to establish if Public Administration Lovro Kuščević's business affairs had been legal and that any public office, notably those held by politicians, implied a sense of moral obligation.

As for whether information in Minister Kuščević's declaration of assets is correct and whether his business affairs were legal, that should be determined by the relevant state institutions, Grabar-Kitarović told reporters, adding that she could not speak about the case but that any public office, especially those held by politicians, implied a sense of moral obligation.

"No one can be above the law or above the people. Apart from legal aspects, we must also be guided by moral principles. The matter is up to the minister's conscience and the prime minister's decision."

Asked if she expected a major government reshuffle, Grabar-Kitarović said that a reshuffle would definitely have to happen considering that Foreign Minister Marija Pejčinović Burić was leaving to take office as Secretary-General of the Council of Europe.

However, the timing and extent of the reshuffle can be decided only by the prime minister, she added.

Asked about reports mentioning PM Plenković as a candidate for the post of European Council President, Grabar-Kitarović said that that showed that Croatia's foreign policy rating had improved in the last three years.

"I'm glad to hear that he is a candidate, I was glad when my name was mentioned (in a similar context), but I did not apply for any post and I did not hold any talks. I'm glad reporters recognise that Croatia does have politicians who can lead European institutions," she said.

When asked if she would run for a second term in office, Grabar-Kitarović replied "All in good time."

"I will not disappoint anyone who has supported me in Croatia, especially not the Croatian Democratic Union and its members, without whom I would have never been elected president," she said.

More news about President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović can be found in the Politics section.

As Morski writes on the 27th of June, 2019, the President of the Republic of Croatia, Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović, presented the honours and decorations to distinguished individuals from all areas of public activity, on the occasion of the celebration of Croatian Statehood Day, which takes place on the 25th of June.

''Your successes are first and foremost a manifestation of patriotism, because you've contributed to strengthening the reputation of Croatia and to promoting excellence and the spreading of the positive values ​​of our society,'' said Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović, adding that these types of awards of recognition and appreciation express deep gratitude and respect for the efforts made, which have resulted in exceptional success across different areas.

The president mentioned various artists and other people involved in culture, as well as respected scientists, businessmen, civil and church associations, and individuals who invest their love, time and energy into selfless work with children, the elderly, the sick and the helpless, as well as numerous humanitarians and of course, athletes.

''All of these successes represent the mosaic of what we are, which makes up our total identity. Because as I often point out, the biggest brand Croatia has are its people - its citizens,'' she pointed out.

With the message that people are the highest value of every area, and how everyone should contribute to the development of their homeland in their own way and within their sphere, Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović congratulated all those who received decorations.

Among the distinguished individuals, for his extraordinary contribution to the construction of a sovereign Croatian state through many long and tireless years of work and creativity on the Croatian music scene, the late Oliver Dragojević was posthumously awarded, the award was received by Oliver's wife, Vesna.

Among other names who received awards from across various fields of interest in Croatia, looking solely at the group of musicians, the group in which the beloved Oliver earned his recognition, Maksim Mrvica also received an award, for his outstanding music success and the promotion of Croatian culture across the world, as well as the realisation of cultural cooperation between Croatia and the People's Republic of China.

Make sure to follow our dedicated lifestyle page for much more.

ZAGREB, June 25, 2019 - President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović said on Tuesday that she was not afraid of anybody's candidacy for the presidential elections, whereas Prime Minister Andrej Plenković said that everybody could run for the presidency, but that the winner would be the incumbent president Grabar-Kitarović.

Asked by the press whether she feared that her "postponement " in the formal announcement of her decision to run for the second term, considering also the candidacy announced by pop singer Miroslav Škoro, could diminish her chances, the president said: "I am not afraid of anything".

Plenković also dismissed speculations that Škoro's candidacy could affect the ratings of the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ).

"The HDZ has its candidate. The party has the current president of the republic. The HDZ will win the presidential elections and I can't see any problem," the HDZ leader said adding that "this is a democracy in which all can stand in elections, but Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović will win".

The president and the premier gave these statements after a wreath-laying ceremony at Mirogoj Cemetery on the occasion of Croatia's Statehood Day, observed on 25 June.

More news about presidential elections can be found in the Politics section.

June the 24th, 2019 - Since 2015, Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović has been President of the Republic of Croatia. Prior to that, the 50-year-old NATO Assistant Secretary General for Public Diplomacy has so far been the highest ranking woman in the history of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. Furthermore, Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović is the first female president of independent Croatia. Sven Lilienström, founder of Faces of Democracy, spoke with Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović about Croatia’s Presidency of the EU Council in 2020, the gender roles in Croatia and NATO as the backbone of Europe’s security architecture.

Ms. President, you are our 66^th “Face of Democracy”. How significant are democracy and democratic values to you personally?

I remember how much I yearned for democracy, when I was a girl growing up in the communist Yugoslavia. How much I wanted to escape the oppression, lack of freedom and lack of individual choice. This is what motivated me to become an exchange student in the US. Upon return, it was even more difficult to tolerate the failed economic policies, the lack of values, of respect, of democratic institutions and inequality before the state and the law. Thus, I joined the moment for an independent Croatia that wanted to become part of the democratic family of nations.

For me the European Union’s greatest achievements are peace, freedom, democracy, equality, human rights. It is easy to take the freedom it brought to all of us for granted. Or to forget the strong desire of the nations formerly behind the so-called Iron Curtain, behind that high wall that separated Europe, to be part of the free world. That desire guided and invigorated our fight for democracy and liberation. Croatia remembers it well.

As a country which has had its fair share of difficult history, communism and war it had to endure to achieve its independence and freedom, we appreciate peace, liberty, democracy, prosperity and stability even more. And we understand how crucial it is to protect the principles which allow our countries and peoples to live in conditions which a great majority of people on this planet are unfortunately not blessed with. My personal experience makes me appreciate democracy and democratic values all the more.

In the first half of 2020, Croatia will take over the Presidency of the EU Council for the first time. One objective for this period is the accession of your country to the EU and Schengen area. What other items are on your to-do list?

Joining the Eurozone and the Schengen area are our national priorities that we will be working on in the next period. In addition, on the global level, Croatia is ready to start the accession process to join the OECD. When it comes to our EU Presidency, we want to focus on development and growth, employment - especially of youth, connectivity (energy, transport, digitalization), and strengthening the security of our citizens, both internal and external. We will strive to give additional visibility to policies in which we believe we can provide some benefit and our specific know-how - such as tourism and maritime policies. Furthermore, one of our most important priorities is EU enlargement, or - as I like to call it - consolidation of the EU. In this vein, we will host an EU-WB summit in May 2020, twenty years after the first Zagreb summit, which was a turning point for the EU perspective of South East European countries.

In a global environment marked by disintegrating structures and numerous conflicts, NATO is an anchor of stability. What does the NATO membership mean for Croatia?

NATO has been the backbone of the Euro-Atlantic security architecture for decades. Let me emphasize in this context that the Republic of Croatia remains firm in its conviction that NATO is the cornerstone of our security and the backbone of Europe’s security architecture.

In our current security surrounding an arc of instability stretches from our south to our east, as a source of a multitude of traditional and non-traditional security threats and challenges, such as hybrid threats, terrorism and extremism, uncontrolled mass migrations and so on. In such circumstances, NATO’s relevance and importance for Europe’s, as well as Croatia’s security and stability remains unquestionable.

Croatia’s commitment to NATO and support to its goal of a Europe whole, free and at peace is steadfast and we have been proving this by our active participation in all major NATO missions and operations in Afghanistan, Kosovo and the Mediterranean, as well as NATO’s enhanced Forward Presence in Lithuania and Poland.

The further development of the Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) is designed to strengthen the strategic autonomy of the EU. Does Europe need another security institution alongside NATO?

Europe must invest in its security. Investing in security is investing in long-term stability and prosperity. We support the further development of the CSDP and its Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO). However, we do not believe in duplication of efforts. NATO remains for us the anchor of our joint defense.

Keyword “emigration”: At present, your country has a brain drain of almost 50,000 citizens per year. Many of them come to Germany. How do you intend to stop the brain drain?

The brain drain is also a consequence of our EU accession. All new EU Member States have experienced the same phenomenon. I have put demographics high on my presidential agenda from the beginning of my mandate. Croatia has talented, educated and diligent young people who fair well at the labour markets across the EU. It is important to implement policies which will keep them in the country. Job creation in Croatia and GDP growth coupled with specific measures for the youth and young families are crucial in this regard. I am content that the emigration process has slowed down recently, but there is much work ahead of us. Now we need to stimulate the return of our recent émigrés.

The gender roles in Croatia are strongly shaped by traditionalist values. You are the first female president of independent Croatia. What developments are taking place in your country with regard to gender diversity?

First of all, Croatia is currently one of only four countries in the world (out of 193 UN Member States) where a woman was elected Head of State directly by popular vote. We have had a female prime minister, and women foreign and defence ministers. I am proud to have recently taken over the Chairmanship of the Council of Women World Leaders (CWWL), the only organization in the World dedicated to current and former women heads of state and government. When it comes to Croatia, gender equality is enshrined in our Constitution as one of the highest constitutional values. We have a whole range of established institutional mechanisms for the protection against discrimination based on gender as well as combating all forms of domestic violence. Croatia is one of the few countries in the world that has a dedicated Ombudsperson for Gender Equality. Furthermore, we developed a Data Base of Business Women in Croatia as well as the Women's Entrepreneurship Development Strategy, which contributed to the increase in number of women entrepreneurs by 23 percent in the last 15 years. We are proud of the fact that we have a smaller gap in wages than the EU average (10 percent in contrast to EU average of 16 percent). Since 2003, a total of 344 women have participated in peace missions and operations around the world. That said, I don't think there is a day when I am not faced with some form of discrimination against women, of gender stereotypes and language that borders on hate speech. Our work is far from done until full gender parity is achieved and violence against women is eradicated, in Europe and the World.

Ms. President, you won the hearts of many people across the world at the World Cup final in 2018. Assuming that you will be elected for a second term in the office: Will you bring the red and white checkered jersey with you to Qatar?

First of all, I have to say once again how immensely proud I am of the Croatian team and their historic second place in Russia, but also of the way they played and carried themselves, of their passion and heart that they left in the field. I am also so proud of the Croatian people, of the sense of pride, unity, belonging and their love for Croatia, that was tangible and that could be felt throughout the country (and seen on TV as well). Of course, I am hoping for the same scenes in Qatar. No matter if I am the President or not, I will be there in red and white checkers cheering the Croatian team on.

Ms. President, thank you very much for the interview!

With thanks to Faces of Democracy for the interview with the President of Croatia.

If you'd like to keep up with more news, views and interviews from the Croatian political scene, make sure to follow our dedicated politics page.

ZAGREB, June 21, 2019 - President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović announced on her Facebook page on Thursday that she would not decide on running for a second term in office before Homeland Thanksgiving Day on August 5.

She thanked all the people for supporting her to run for a second term, "especially the party whose candidate I was five years ago."

Grabar-Kitarović said that she wanted to attend the Homeland Thanksgiving Day ceremony in Knin as President and not as a presidential candidate, "to leave this special day for Croatia out of the context of a political campaign."

Prime Minister Andrej Plenković recently called on Grabar-Kitarovic to run for a second term in office, saying that his HDZ party was waiting for her "with open arms", but that it was up to her to decide the timing of her announcement.

Former prime minister Zoran Milanović said recently that he would be running for the presidency as the candidate of the SDP party. According to media reports, pop singer Miroslav Škoro will join the race as an independent candidate and is expected to announce his candidacy by the end of this week. Elected MEP Mislav Kolakušić and MP Tomislav Panenić have also expressed their intentions to run for the presidency.

Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković said in Brussels on Friday morning that the incumbent president Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović had the prerogative to opt for the opportune time for her to announce her candidacy for a second term, and presidency challengers are supposed to express their aspirations before that.

"She (is the incumbent president. Let the contenders announce their decisions, while she has the prerogative to decide when she wants to formally announce whether she will rerun for the presidency," Plenković said.

More news about the upcoming presidential elections can be found in the Politics section.

ZAGREB, June 20, 2019 - European Socialists and Liberals are strongly opposed to German Christian Democrat Manfred Weber's bid for European Commission President, but they agree that this post is filled by the candidate of the European People's Party (EPP), which is now seeking new candidates and among these undeclared candidates are two senior Croatian officials, President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović and Prime Minister Andrej Plenković, the Belgian daily Le Soir said on Thursday.

Citing unnamed sources, Le Soir says that the EPP is looking for a new candidate who could receive wider support. It says that Michel Barnier, the EU's chief Brexit negotiator, could be such a candidate but none of the sources have mentioned his name.

On the other hand, the name of Croatian President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović has cropped up in the last 24 hours when the EPP, pressed by the need to abandon the candidacy of its leader Manfred Weber, intensified the search within its ranks, the newspaper said.

It recalled that Grabar-Kitarović had served as assistant to NATO's secretary general before becoming President of Croatia in 2015. "There is a greater consensus about her than Prime Minister Plenković, who is also mentioned, but she has a somewhat more prominent nationalist profile," Le Soir said.

The newspaper says that Plenković is appreciated among his colleagues, but that he has been chosen by heads of state or government from the EPP to represent them in tripartite prime ministerial negotiations on the appointment of heads of EU institutions. "He could be a useful and consensual solution," it says.

According to Le Soir, if the EPP received the position of Commission President, the position of Council President would go to the Liberals, who have joined forces with MEPs elected on the list of French President Emmanuel Macron, and it could be filled by Charles Michel, acting Prime Minister of Belgium. The Socialists would get the position of Parliament President, which they would relinquish mid-term to the Greens, the position of High Representative for Foreign and Security Policy, who at the same time is Commission Vice-President, and an important economic department in the Commission. The newspaper notes that this is a highly uncertain scenario.

Although it is not very likely that either of the Croatians could get the post of Commission President, the fact that as many as two Croatian candidates are mentioned can be interpreted as an expression of confidence in the newest EU member, Le Soir says.

The leaders of the 28 EU member states are meeting for a two-day summit on Thursday to discuss the appointment of new heads of European institutions.

Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković in Brussels on Thursday declined to comment on the media reports. "Never mind the media reports. We've seen all sorts of things, such as articles in Politico and the Financial Times," Plenković told the press on arrival for a meeting of the leaders of the European People's Party (EPP), who traditionally meet before each EU summit.

On Thursday morning Plenković met with five prime ministers who represent their political groups to discuss the appointment of new heads of European institutions.

Plenković and Latvian Prime Minister Krisjanis Karins are negotiating on behalf of the EPP, the Socialists are represented by Spain's Pedro Sanchez and Antonio Costa of Portugal, and the Liberals are represented by Belgian and Dutch Prime Ministers Charles Michel and Mark Rutte.

Plenković said that the negotiations were demanding and tough, with each group holding their own line. "Now we are having consultations with our respective political groups, after which we are continuing negotiations before the European Council meeting, and then comes a key dinner this evening. It will really be demanding, the negotiations are more than tough."

Asked if he and Karins were defending Manfred Weber as their 'spitzenkandidat', Plenković answered affirmatively. "That's the only mandate that we have," he said.

Karins also said that the negotiations were difficult. So far, we have heard a lot of negative things, and I am trying to find what is positive. That's what Andrej Plenković and I are working on with the representatives of other political groups. We must think how we can build something positive in Europe rather than focus on the negative, he said.

Karins would not comment on the media reports about Plenković and Grabar-Kitarović as possible candidates for Commission President. There are a lot of speculations being talked about and I'll leave them to the speculators, the Latvian prime minister said.

More news about Croatia and the European Union can be found in the Politics section.

ZAGREB, June 18, 2019 - President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović, who is currently in Estonia, briefly commented on Tuesday on former prime minister Zoran Milanovic's announcement that he would run for the presidency and said that everyone who satisfies the conditions in the Constitution has the right to be a candidate.

"As I have said before, anyone in Croatia who meets the conditions in the Croatian Constitution has the right to be a candidate," she briefly told Croatian reporters, who were asked earlier by her entourage not to ask her when she intends to announce her candidacy.

Prime Minister Andrej Plenković would not comment on former SDP prime minister Zoran Milanović's presidency bid on Tuesday.

"This is a democratic country, anyone can stand as a candidate, and formal candidacies are still a few months away," Plenković told a press conference in Zagreb.

Asked if Milanović's bid was unexpected, the prime minister said he had not thought about it. Plenković recalled that he had defeated Milanović in the parliamentary election three years ago and added: "He may lose again."

Asked if the message he had made on Monday at a ceremony marking 30 years since the foundation of his HDZ party was a call to the incumbent President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović to announce her candidacy for a second term in office, Plenković said that it was up to the president to choose the best time to announce her bid.

"As you could see yesterday from the reaction of the audience, the HDZ will give her strong support, and she has had my support all this time. It's up to her to decide when she will announce her candidacy, I think the message from the Lisinski concert hall was very clear yesterday, and you should ask her why she is waiting," he added.

Addressing Monday's ceremony, Plenković said he expected Grabar-Kitarović to run for a second term in office, adding that it was up to her to decide the right time to announce her presidency bid and that the HDZ was waiting for her "with open arms."

More news about presidential elections can be found in the Politics section.

ZAGREB, June 18, 2019 - Prime Minister Andrej Plenković said on Monday he expected President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović to run for a second term in office, adding that it was up to her to decide on the timing of her formal announcement for the race and that his HDZ party was waiting for her "with open arms".

"As the HDZ leader I expect President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović to run for a second term and I'm sure we will all support her together. It's up to her to find the right time for announcing her candidacy and I can see that the HDZ is waiting for her with open arms," Plenković said to loud applause at a ceremony marking the 30th anniversary since the foundation of the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ).

The chairman of the HDZ parliamentary group, Branko Bačić, told the press after the ceremony that Grabar-Kitarović would announce her presidency bid shortly. "She will announce her candidacy very soon, let's wait for a little while longer," he said.

Bačić denied the existence of documents or material that might compromise the president. Vladimir Šeks, one of the 'oldest' members of the HDZ, said on Sunday that there were "some stories going around about something that might compromise her."

"There are no documents or material that might compromise Grabar-Kitarović. I don't know about them and we in the party don't know about them. The person who said that should explain what this material is about. She certainly has no documents that would in any way compromise her joining the presidential race and her victory," Bačić said.

He said that Grabar-Kitarović's presidential term was excellent and that no statements made "on the eve of the campaign" could foil her victory.

Asked if Zoran Milanović, the presidential candidate of the strongest opposition Social Democratic Party (SDP), could threaten her victory, Bačić said that the HDZ had defeated Milanovic in the last six electoral cycles and he was confident that Grabar-Kitarović would defeat him in the seventh one as well.

"An unsuccessful prime minister cannot be a successful president. Had he been a successful prime minister, he wouldn't have lost to the HDZ in the 2015 election and in the 2016 extraordinary election," he said.

Bačić confirmed that Plenkovic and HDZ secretary-general Gordan Jandroković were in close contact with Grabar-Kitarović and were discussing her candidacy.

More news about presidential elections can be found in the Politics section.