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)."

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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."

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ZAGREB, 13 May 2022 - President Zoran Milanović on Friday accused Finland of ignoring Croatian interests for years and reiterated that he would continue fighting for the rights of Croats in Bosnia and Herzegovina because he considers that an exceptionally good security reason for Croatia.

Milanović was responding to a question from a Nova TV reporter to comment on the statement by Finnish foreign minister Pekka Haavisto, who had allegedly said that Finland was shocked by the president's statements.

"Welcome to the club, mister foreign minister. We have been shocked for several years already by your ignorance and rudeness," said Milanović in response, noting: "If he really said that."

Milanović added that two days ago, the state secretary of the Finnish ministry of foreign affairs spoke with the associates in his office and that he "didn't say that" then.

In his yesterday's statement to Nova TV, Haavisto didn't mention being "shocked" but he said that he hoped for Croatian solidarity and assistance in their bid to join NATO.

We find it a bit strange that our NATO membership is being connected to something we cannot influence, he said.

Milanović's support for Finland and Sweden's aspirations is conditional on a reform of the election law in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

"We are shocked that they haven't given a damn about us for years. We are shocked that they are treating us as if we were a member of the Arab League, with all due respect, and not a NATO and EU member. We are shocked that we are obstructed every time we put this topic on the agenda and try to turn our attention to it. I am shocked by the behaviour of the Croatian government and Plenković's part of the HDZ," the Croatian president said.

Milanović stressed that he wouldn't give up fighting for the rights of Croats in the neighbouring country. "I have no choice. I must fight for the basic rights of Croats in BiH peacefully. There is no other option," he said.

Croatian Parliament Speaker Gordan Jandroković said on Friday that it wouldn't be wise to block Finland and Sweden on their NATO path and that that would mean working to the benefit of Russia, and Milanović told him "it isn't a matter of wisdom but a matter of national interest."

Finland's state leadership said on Thursday that Finland had to submit a membership application to NATO "without delay," which is a big turnabout in its policy, prompted by the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

"What joining NATO means to Finland at this moment, is what Bosnia and Herzegovina means to us. The difference is in the fact that we have been saying this for several years," said Milanović, dismissing claims that he was catering to Russia.

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ZAGREB, 5 May 2022  - Headquarters Multinational Division Centre (HQ MND-C), an international military initiative launched by Croatia and Hungary, has been integrated into the NATO Force Structure, the Croatian Defence Ministry said on Thursday.

Located at Székesfehérvár, Hungary, HQ MND-C was integrated into the NATO Force Structure in line with a decision on activation and integration, made by the North Atlantic Council on 3 May, the ministry said.

The commander of HQ MND-C is Major General Denis Tretinjak.

"The integration of MND-C into the NATO Force Structure completes the procedure for the integration of this initiative into NATO's security architecture, which will significantly contribute to strengthening the alliance's deterrence and defence capacity in Europe and thus to collective defence and crisis management," the ministry said.

HQ MND-C will become fully operational in 2023 when it will become part of NATO's plans and objectives regarding the strengthening of regional as well as overall NATO security. A medium-term development plan for the period until 2032 envisages the development of its forces to the level of a division.

The establishment of HQ MND-C was initiated by Croatia and Hungary in July 2018 when the lack of allied capacity in command and control in Central Europe was recognised, followed by intensive work with regional partners to establish command.

Apart from Croatia and Hungary as the initiators, Slovakia has also joined HQ MND-C as the third founding country.

Poland is involved in the work of HQ MND-C as well, and interest in joining has also been shown by Germany, Italy, Romania, Slovenia and Turkey.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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