ZAGREB, 20 May 2021 - President Zoran Milanović said on Thursday that the procedure for the purchase of fighter jets was very strict, but he would not reveal details of today's Defence Council meeting or the type of aircraft Croatia would go for.

"The process has been good so far. It hasn't been compromised, there have been no information leaks. Eventually, the cost will have to be presented to the Croatian public," Milanović told the press.

He said it was important that Croatia had the fighter jets by no later than 2024. "They have to be here by then," Milanović said, adding that Croatia should not be without its own resources even for a day. 

Milanović said that this was a major project and that he hoped the government would take a decision on it before Armed Forces Day, which is observed on 28 May.

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ZAGREB, 20 May (Hina) - Croatia's Ambassador to Bulgaria, Jasna Ognjanovac, was summoned by the Bulgarian Foreign Ministry on Wednesday over President Zoran Milanović's statement in which he strongly criticized "Bulgaria's policy towards the European integration of North Macedonia," Bulgarian media reported. 

Ognjanovac was summoned at the request of Minister Svetlan Stoev, and she was received by the Director General for European Affairs, Rumen Alexandrov.

The reason for the meeting was President Zoran Milanović's statement after a summit of the Brdo-Brijuni Process at Brdo Pri Kranju, in which he sharply criticized Bulgaria's policy towards the European integration of North Macedonia, the Bulgarian BNT broadcaster said.

Alexandrov called Milanović's statement "unacceptable and unwarranted".

He said that it was "disappointing not just in the context of the excellent bilateral dialogue between Sofia and Zagreb and their unanimity on a number of topics on the European and regional agenda, but also in view of the fact that being the region's immediate neighbors, Bulgaria and Croatia are naturally bonded by a shared interest in the reform, stabilization and EU integration of the Western Balkans in the near future."

In a statement to reporters at Brdo Pri Kranju, Milanović warned that North Macedonia "is in an impossible position" and that one EU member state demanded that North Macedonia "define its national genesis in the way requested by the neighboring state" in history textbooks.

He said that he would "openly oppose" that within his powers.

Milanović did not name the state but meant Bulgaria, which is rejecting a negotiating framework for North Macedonia because Sofia claims, North Macedonian textbooks "revise and negate their common ethnic and linguistic history."

The Croatian ambassador said she would convey the Bulgarian position to Zagreb, noting the need for cooperation between Bulgaria and Croatia with a view to guaranteeing the stability of the Western Balkans and the region's European perspective, BNT said. 

The Croatian Foreign and European Affairs Ministry confirmed to Hina that Ambassador Ognjenovac had been to the Bulgarian Foreign Ministry where the Bulgarian side conveyed to her its position.

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ZAGREB, 1 May 2021 - President Zoran Milanović laid a wreath in the eastern town of Okučani on Saturday in tribute to Croatian soldiers and police officers killed in Operation Flash during the Homeland War 26 years ago.

On this day in 1995, "with their knowledge, patience and courage, Croatian heroes liberated this part of Croatia," Milanović said, adding that Operation Flash, and 1993's Operation Maslenica, had paved the way for Operation Storm in August 1995 that ended the four-year Serb armed insurgency in the country.

"While we others were in Zagreb, Geneva, in administrative services, a small number of men fought here. Eternal praises and glory to the Croatian heroes!" the president said.

Milanović's delegation included the Chief of the General Staff of the Croatian Armed Forces, Admiral Robert Hranj, presidential adviser on defence and national security Dragan Lozančić, presidential adviser on Homeland War veterans Marijan Mareković and high-level military commanders.

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April 17, 2021 - Croatian President Zoran Milanović on Saturday blasted an alleged document on changing the Balkan borders, saying he hoped it did not come from Slovenia.

In the past few days, the public in the region has been focusing on an alleged non-paper on changing the borders of the Balkan states and reorganizing them along ethnic lines. The media say the authors are Slovenia's highest officials, which they have denied.

"Regarding a peaceful break-up in Bosnia and Herzegovina - that's such a flippant and dangerous topic that it shouldn't be put even in a non-paper, regardless of who did that," Milanović told the press.

"Any peaceful break-up, Croatia all the way to the Drina river, Belgrade to the Una river - that's out of the question. And in that sense, that paper is a big shit," Milanović said.

Slovenian President Borut Pahor told the press on Friday that he was committed to BiH's integrity, that he was against changing the borders in the Balkans, and that he was pushing for stepping up the inclusion of all states in the region into the EU.

Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Janša denied sending Brussels any non-paper on that. Media close to him say such accusations are an attempt by the Slovenian opposition to compromise him before Slovenia takes over the EU presidency in July.

Milanović said he hoped the unofficial diplomatic document did not come from Ljubljana because "objectively, I respect them a lot and don't think they are that thick."

"Whether this is coming from (Janša) or not, I don't know, but I would tell the author of that to keep their fingers off Bosnia and Herzegovina," he added.

Speaking of Janša, Milanović said, "he can be an enfant terrible and something else along with that. This Janša was actually, I won't say, benevolent towards Croatia, but you could see that behind him, there was some support that was continuous in Slovenian politics, and that's why he sometimes surprised me with some of his constructive views."

Milanović dismissed the possibility of BiH breaking up and asked that Croats there were given back the fundamental constitutional rights stemming from the Dayton peace agreement, rights he said: "have been denied to them, even stolen from them."

He said, "it's a fact that nothing will come of BiH's break-up," adding that BiH Presidency chairman Milorad Dodik would not like that but that he believed Dodik too was aware of that.

Milanović said he did not believe that Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić would back the idea of Kosovo and Albania uniting.

The Slovenian web portal Necenzurirano has run the content of the non-paper, written in English and without header or signature, and it was carried by many other media in Slovenia, underlining that it was not confirmed either by the European Council or the European Commission.

The unofficial diplomatic document, entitled "Western Balkans - A Way Forward," concerns the division of BiH, the annexation of its Serb entity to Serbia, and the unification of Kosovo and Albania, the web portal said.

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April 17, 2021- President Zoran Milanović attended a ceremony in Marčana on Saturday, marking the Proština Rebellion centenary, saying that Nazism and fascism were extremisms of hate and that communism was the extremism of human and noble hope.

"That difference, apparently only verbal, is actually essential," he said.

The Proština Rebellion in Istria County was one of the first anti-fascist uprisings in Europe.

Milanović laid a wreath and lit a candle at the monument to the revolt and said that little was known in Croatia about the resistance of the villagers of Proština.

Living in Istria has become chic

"Today Istria can be proud of everything it built and is building. This is a tolerant, progressive, pleasant environment where people wish to live. It's become chic in a way. This status was not won quickly or easily," he said, adding that the story of Istria was a story of success, "of a success which lasts despite the coronavirus crisis, which will pass."

"Today we have a beautiful, successful, tolerant, gentle, but energetic place where good and ambitious people live," Milanović said.

Former president Stjepan Mesić said it would have been good if the victory in WWII had meant the end of fascism but that it was not quite so as many equated communism and fascism.

"Communism is a mega idea which could be only a world idea and it is unachievable. Fascism is dangerous as it can occur in small communities to develop and endanger the world. Unfortunately, even today we have attempts by revisionists who think they can turn those defeated in World War II into the winners. Obviously, that can succeed and it's up to us to oppose that," Mesić said.

Pula mayor: We don't allow anti-fascism to be besmirched

Istria County acting prefect Fabrizio Radin and Pula mayor Boris Miletić said that anti-fascism, as the lasting commitment of the people of Istria, was lived in the county on a daily basis.

"That struggle began in early 1921 here in Istria with the rebellion of villagers against the fascist terror. Occurring almost simultaneously as the Proština Rebellion was the Labin Republic, that is the uprising of Istrian miners which is considered the first antifascist uprising in the world," Miletić said, adding that in Istria anti-fascism had always been unsullied.

"We don't allow anti-fascism to be besmirched and speak loudly against anyone doing that. We nurture those true democratic values and continue to pass them on to younger generations," he said.

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ZAGREB, October 5, 2020 - President Zoran Milanovic met on Monday with a delegation of Croats from Serbia who informed him of their activities in protecting and promoting the rights of Croats in that country, the conditions in which they operate and the problems they encounter.

According to a press release, President Milanovic received the president of the Croatian National Council (HNV), Jasna Vojnic, the council's vice president for Subotica, Ladislav Suknovic, and the president of the Democratic Alliance  of Croats in Vojvodine (DSHV), Tomislav Zigmanov.

"HNV and DSHV representatives informed President Milanovic of their work in the past and activities to protect and promote the rights of Croats in Serbia as well as the conditions in which they operate and the problems they encounter," the press release said.

Milanovic supported their work and underlined that he expects the standards that Croatia applies in promoting the rights of national minorities to be equally applied to the Croat national minority in Serbia.

The President expressed his readiness to visit Croats who live in Serbia and in that way confirm Croatia's care for the Croat community in that neighbouring country. Milanovic said that respecting minority rights was and will remain an important criterion on the journey to European Union membership.

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ZAGREB, October  2, 2020 - During a visit to the Lika region on Friday President Zoran Milanovic opened the Autumn in Lika commercial tourism event and said that Lika-Senj County has beautiful and rich land, unbelievable resources, wishing its residents wealthy lives and for everyone to be envious of them.

Recalling his own family roots which are partly from Lika, Milanovic said that the fact that this large county has only 50,000 residents "is not a drama or a call for alarm," but that they should be able to use their resources and live a nice and rich life.

"The food you offer and sell has quality and means living and earning. Your potatoes are produced in all of Europe and are excellent. It is not valued enough as a product on the market and should be more expensive. That needs intelligence, assertiveness, boldness and stubbornness and then success isn't far at all," he said.

Picky tourists don't choose the Alps but Lika

He added that picky people are no longer choosing the Alps for their recreation but Lika and the area around Gospic and Otocac.

"Important things are happening here. You have all the preconditions to be competitive and that these 50,000 people live in wealth and for themselves and not like my ancestors for Austria or some other army. Keep your own. That need not be narrow minded or nationalistic, but open," he said addressing exhibitors, describing their products as the "window to the world and a bag of money."

Despite unfavourable conditions agriculture has increased by 3.9%

Listing various incentives, Agriculture Minister Marija Vuckovic said that investment funds were improving from tender to tender and the money invested was becoming more and more effective,  adding that despite the unfavourable circumstances Croatia's agriculture had increased by 3.9%.

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ZAGREB, Sept 28, 2020 - PM Andrej Plenkovic has said that President Zoran Milanovic's invitation to him to hold talks is beside the point and that the new ambassadorial appointment will be the sole topic of their meeting, repeating, in the context of the JANAF affair, that "there are no untouchables" in investigations.

Since the JANAF graft scandal broke Milanovic and Plenkovic have been trading barbs, with the government having told Milanovic that he should stabilise, to which he has responded that he is more stable than Plenkovic, recalling the PM's having lunged at a member of parliament during a debate.

Asked to comment on Milanovic's statements, Plenkovic said during a visit to Sibenik on Monday: "One can see from afar that he has stabilised."

No untouchables

The PM repeated that the autonomy of state institutions was the main topic of the ongoing debate.

"We have to get back to the main topic - the autonomy of the Office of the Chief State Prosecutor, the Office for Suppression of Corruption and Organised Crime and police, the secrecy of preliminary probes and a truly uncompromised fight against corruption. That is the policy of our government, and if there is suspicion that someone has been involved in corruption, regardless of who they are, the party they belong to or their office - they have to answer for it," said the PM.

The government has been and will continue acting accordingly, in line with the law, he said, adding that "the public and all political actors have to realise that there are no untouchables. That is, as far as we are concerned, where the story begins and ends," he said.

Talks only on ambassadorial appointments

Asked by reporters if that meant that there would be no meeting to which President Milanovic had invited him, Plenkovic said that the invitation was beside the point.

"The only meeting we will have is one concerning the appointment of new ambassadors," he said.

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ZAGREB, Sept 23, 2020 - The main objective of Croatia's economic policy should be to increase employment, and Croatia must make the transition from a holiday country to a great country for work, President Zoran Milanovic said on Wednesday while speaking at the Big Plans Day conference organised by the Lider weekly.

"We should strive to increase the share of highly educated people in the workforce because they are a key source of competitive advantage," the president said, adding that the Croatian society and economy needed to open up, because being closed led to being non-competitive and falling behind.

Commenting on the crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and the lockdown in the first half of the year, Milanovic said that new possibilities were opening up now but an agreement had to be reached on what Croatia's new economic identity was.

He also said it was time Croatia focused on investment growth instead of personal consumption, adding that this should not be investment that mostly depends on EU funds, but greenfield investment that creates new jobs.

He warned that we should not be in a situation where the tax system stimulates rental activities and excise duties force production companies out of Croatia "no matter what they are producing, even if we do not like what they are producing."

"My vision of Croatia is a modern, innovative, open, healthy, green and sustainable country. That is the economic identity I will advocate during my term," he said.

Milanovic said that investment should focus on the sustainability of business models, adding that the European Green Deal was the basis for building economic competitiveness.

Diversification, sustainability, production, employment -- these are the goals on which we all must actively cooperate to ensure the growth of prosperity of our people, he said.

Economy and Sustainable Development Minister Tomislav Coric said that 2021 would be a year of recovery, but also a year of correcting economic mistakes. The government thought, he said, that the country's dependence on tourism was its main mistake, so one of the main priorities of this government would be to deal with this issue.

The main task of the government's economic policy next year will be digital transformation and strengthening production capacities and digital transformation, he underscored.

According to Coric, Croatia should make use of its comparative advantages and increase its competitiveness, and a fast economic recovery is possible if everyone works together in synergy -- the government, entrepreneurs, the industry and the financial sector.

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ZAGREB, September 19, 2020 - President Zoran Milanovic said on Saturday, in a comment on the JANAF corruption scandal, that he did not understand why JANAF CEO Dragan Kovacevic and businessman Kreso Petek were not arrested at the moment when Kovacevic received a bribe of HRK 1.96 million from Petek. 

"I don't understand why this did not stop at the moment when it was found out through surveillance that someone was giving someone two million kuna in bribes. That should have been the end of the story, you have a case, you have physical evidence. That's what I would like to know," Milanovic said when asked about the investigation into the case in which public tenders were allegedly rigged to favour Petek's company.

Petek is charged with having bribed Kovacevic in November 2019 with HRK 1.96 million to win several jobs for his company. At the moment when the money was handed over, police rather closely recorded the circumstances in which Petek took the money to Kovacevic.

Kovacevic was Milanovic's rival in a 2008 election for the president of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), after which he joined the Croatian People's Party (HNS), and Milanovic confirmed today that the two of them had a lunch together a few months ago.

"We are not close friends, but we have been on good terms," said the president.

Considering that Kovacevic was appointed to head JANAF during his government's term, Milanovic said that Kovacevic was appointed JANAF CEO in 2012 by Radimir Cacic.

The president also commented on Standard & Poor's having affirmed Croatia's investment grade, saying that what the agency said was good but that agency ratings were a matter of the past.

"At a time when money is practically free, their forecasts do not mean anything. More important is what we know and the data we have, and next year should be a year of recovery and growth provided the situation with the coronavirus calms down," said Milanovic, who attended an event marking the 75th anniversary of the liberation of the northwestern Croatia in World War II.

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