ZAGREB, April 15, 2020 - President Zoran Milanović on Wednesday called on banks to offer, under clearly defined criteria, an interest-free loan repayment moratorium of 12 months to workers, the self-employed, and small and micro businesses affected by the crisis caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

"Since in normal circumstances those categories of debtors meet their obligations towards banks in the most regular manner and since the Croatian National Bank has relaxed supervision of the banking sector, this move would show that banks are actively participating in the process of maintaining economic activity," Milanović said in a Facebook post.

He notes that what banks are currently offering is an ordinary moratorium appropriate to a normal situation, which is not helping debtors.

"The moratorium currently on offer, which is not interest-free, is no relief for debtors, it will eventually increase their total loan liabilities and on top of everything, debtors have to pay for contract authentication," he says.

In future banks will be able, owing to measures taken to encourage economic activity and loan growth, to offset possible losses to be incurred due to participation in the process aimed at preserving economic activity, he says.

"In that spirit, I call on banks to adjust their moratorium offers to the current situation," Milanović says in his post.

More coronavirus news can be found in the Lifestyle section.

ZAGREB, April 10, 2020 - President Zoran Milanović said on Thursday that the law on electronic communications, which would legalise a large-scale tracking of citizens' mobile phones in the fight against the coronavirus, should be passed by a two-thirds majority.

"I don't know who can wholeheartedly support such a measure at all. I would expect those who propose it to cry from the top of their lungs that we will all die if that law and those amendments are not adopted as soon as possible. But no, we are seeing a dogged determination to secure a second reading, I guess to wear people down so they give up," Milanović said in an interview with N1 television when asked about the bill on electronic communications.

He said that the insistence on the bill indicated that its sponsor had suspicious motives. "Why in God's name, who needs that? And (tracking would be with the consent) of the person tracked. Why? What is the purpose of the measure if the consent of the person tracked is required," he added.

He warned that people to be covered by tracking - and currently those were all Croatian citizens - had the right to compensation.

"This (measure) is actionable, why expose oneself to unnecessary risks. Adopt the measure by a two-thirds majority and it's a done deal," he said.

Milanović warned that due to the current crisis caused by the coronavirus pandemic Croatia would experience a major economic downturn and that unemployment would grow as well, the only question being how much.

He also believes that the government's measures designed to alleviate the economic impact of the crisis are not belated but he also believes that the government has adopted them under pressure.

"When the first set of measures was adopted, I said that it was a work in progress. As for the latest measures, the question is how long they can last, and where the limits of our and everybody else's capacity are. This will hold water for a few months," he said.

He also said that the current crisis was completely different from the crisis of 2008.

The current crisis is a crisis of both supply and demand and if the crisis of supply lasts too long, it will cause inflation, provided people have money, the president said.

"There will be money but there won't be goods, so (the current crisis) is completely incomparable with the crisis of 2008, both in terms of the resilience of the banking sector and citizens and in terms of the unemployment rate, which is much lower than in 2008 in entire Europe. The circumstances are different. The current crisis has shocked everyone," he said.

As for the proposals to cut wages in the public sector, Milanović said that 250,000 people worked in this sector and that actually only minor savings would be made if people for whom it would not be right to reduce their wages were excluded from cuts. He noted that the government was now borrowing and would have to pay back this debt one day.

"Once this crisis is over, the government will have to repay this debt, which means that people working in the public sector will see their next raise in the distant future. That's why it makes no sense to reduce their pay twice," the president said.

Milanović said that banks would profit from this crisis. He recalled that the Croatian National Bank had released HRK 6.5 billion (€855m) to the government, adding that if the interest rate was more than one percent it would be profiteering.

Asked to assess the national healthcare system, the president said that it remained robust and, although a lot of things have been destroyed, it was still "a resilient structure." He warned that the system was strained by the costs of and large debts to the pharmaceutical industry.

Speaking of the situation in nursing homes in Split and Koprivnica where coronavirus cases have been reported, he said that the situation should be investigated.

More coronavirus news can be found in the Lifestyle section.

ZAGREB, April 8, 2020 - President Zoran Milanović on Wednesday extended greetings to Jewish believers on the occasion of Passover, saying its symbolism is a lasting inspiration to all of humankind, notably today when so much solidarity is needed.

"Passover is a holiday which reminds us of the value of the freedom of every man and people as well as the right to peace and progress. In such an environment, everyone can contribute to their personal and general development, mutual understanding and respect among people," the president said in his message.

"The symbolism of Passover is a lasting inspiration to all of humankind and it is especially important today when we need so much solidarity," he added, extending his greetings to all Jewish believers on "the greatest Jewish holiday."

More news about Jews in Croatia can be found in the Politics section.

ZAGREB, April 3, 2020 - Croatian President Zoran Milanović on Friday met with representatives of the Croatian Chamber of Civil Engineers and representatives of structural engineers, many of whom volunteered to help after the recent earthquake in Zagreb, and expressed his thanks for their unselfish work and effort.

"Repairing earthquake damage is work that has to be carried out primarily by the government, that is the state. It is important that Zagreb be reconstructed in a quality manner, according to recommendations by professionals, and that we as a state learn from this natural disaster and pass legislation that will minimise damage in the event of a similar natural disaster," President Milanović said.

Representatives of the Chamber and structural engineers presented their comments on the law on damage repair to President Milanovic, underscoring that the legislature should listen more to opinions and recommendations of professionals.

They also called for the establishment of an expert response team at the state level, which could quickly and effectively respond and co-ordinate in case of natural disasters because, as they underscored, emergency care following an earthquake cannot be based on volunteering and enthusiasm of citizens, a press release from the Office of the President said.

More news about the earthquake can be found in the Lifestyle section.

ZAGREB, March 31, 2020 - President and Armed Forces Supreme Commander Zoran Milanović on Tuesday lit a candle at a monument at Plitvička Jezera commemorating Josip Jović, the first Croatian police officer killed in the Homeland War, on the occasion of the 29th anniversary of his death.

Milanović's envoy, Brigadier Darko Podrug, head of the Croatian Navy commander's office, laid a wreath at Jović's grave in Arzano.

Jović, 22, was killed and nine other police officers were wounded in a police operation on 31 March 1991 after Serb insurgents occupied the Plitvice Lakes National Park and blocked the D1 state road that connects the country's north and south.

Jović was a member of the Lučko Anti-Terrorist Unit.

Minister of the Interior Davor Božinović on Tuesday paid tribute to Josip Jović, the first Croatian police officer killed in the Homeland War, as well as to other police officers and soldiers killed in the 1991-95 war.

Božinović lit a candle at a monument commemorating Jovic at Plitvice Lakes on the occasion of the 29th anniversary of his death.

Božinović, who heads the national team managing the current coronavirus crisis, said that police, together with other services, were today on the first line of defence against coronavirus, just as they had been on the first line of defence during the war.

More news about the Homeland War can be found in the Politics section.

ZAGREB, March 28, 2020 - President Zoran Milanović said on Saturday that the state should send a clear message to those affected the most financially by the coronavirus epidemic and guarantee at least the minimum wage for all those who have lost their jobs.

"It is important that those who are economically the most affected... very soon receive a clear message - 'We are here for you'. Because people who are laying off workers, closing down their businesses... need a clear message that the state will help them. Well-intentioned promises are not enough," Milanović told reporters after visiting Zagreb's School of Medicine and University Rector's Office.

Milanović said that he had not been invited to join the government's emergency team of advisors for the economic sector as he did not belong there but that he was open to talks.

"I don't want to cause confusion in matters which are not within my remit, any advice is welcome but the government is the one making decisions," he said.

He said that the measures adopted by the government so far were "an economic shield" and protection for those who need assistance the most, and that they would change as the situation unfolds.

Milanović believes that there has been a lot of misunderstanding and poor communication between the government and those affected the most by the crisis - people who work in the private sector and whose liquidity is not strong.

The public sector should help shoulder the impact of the crisis and wages in that sector should be reduced as soon as possible, but they should not be reduced to the minimum wage, Milanović said.

"That is a very bad idea by moralists and demagogues. But those wages should be reduced and in six months' time, we'll see where we are," he said.

The state should guarantee the minimum wage for everyone who has lost their job due to the current crisis, without exception, Milanović said.

More coronavirus news can be found in the Lifestyle section.

ZAGREB, March 21, 2020 - Croatian President and Armed Forces Supreme Commander Zoran Milanović on Saturday toured a medical camp outside Zagreb's Dubrava Hospital, saying that at present there is no need for a lockdown or for declaring a state of emergency during which he and the prime minister would be making decisions together.

As for the possibility of transferring some of the parliament's powers onto the government, which was discussed at a meeting of the ruling coalition and the parliamentary Opposition earlier this week, Milanović said that he had not seen that proposal and did not perceive it as being to that effect and that he believed that under the Constitution it was not possible to transfer the parliament's powers onto the government.

"Should there really be a need for harsh, extreme measures such as lockdown, I guess that will include the suspension of the parliament's work, which is what I would like to avoid," Milanović said, stressing that he and parliament were there to care about others and not vice versa.

Responding to a reporter's remark that some MPs had suggested declaring a state of emergency to pave the way for the president and the prime minister to start making decisions together if the situation escalates, Milanović said that that was unnecessary as long as the parliament worked.

He repeated that he did not see a need for a lockdown, stressing the importance of behaving responsibly.

There is no need for extreme measures and cooperation with the government, which has been doing its job well for the most part, is good, Milanović said.

Commenting on the medical camp set up outside the Dubrava Hospital by the Croatian Army, Milanović said that he hoped a situation would be avoided in which its maximum capacity would have to be tested.

Answering reporters' questions, Milanović said that at present the army should not be called in to help police deal with breaches of self-isolation rules.

"I am not in favour of rushing into calling the army in... your question refers to a complication which I find hard even to imagine," he said.

We have learned the lesson, and we know some things now, he said, underlining the importance of keeping interpersonal distance and socialising as little as possible.

Milanović would not draw parallels to the situation in Italy, where the coronavirus epidemic has escalated suddenly, but noted that the situation could get complicated.

Commenting on photos of Zagreb city parks, showing people playing cards in the open with children jumping around, the president said that it was a job for the police, not the army, to warn them to move away from one another.

He said that he would probably not be the one to make a decision on a lockdown but that he could support it if it was adopted.

As for the dynamic at which the national civil protection authority was introducing restrictions on social contact, Milanovic said that he supported it.

The president also said that public sector wages should not be cut.

"I am a politician, you can cut my salary as a symbolic example but reducing the minimum wage in the public sector means death to the system," Milanović said, adding that whoever had made that proposal was not very clever.

"You can reduce the president's or the prime minister's salary, but you cannot do it to the health minister because at this stage he works more than I do," he said.

Commenting on donations of protective equipment from the Emirates, he said that any such donation was welcome even though Croatia was capable of producing masks, but added that respirators could not be manufactured by just anybody.

Milanović visited the medical camp outside the Dubrava Hospital in the company of Defence Minister Damir Krstičević.

More coronavirus news can be found in the Lifestyle section.

ZAGREB, March 19, 2020 - President Zoran Milanović on Thursday received the newly-appointed Apostolic Nuncio to Croatia, Archbishop Giorgio Lingua, his office said in a press release.

Lingua is the doyen of the diplomatic corps in Croatia. He was appointed by Pope Francis in July 2019 and presented his credentials in October.

Lingua is the sixth papal envoy to Zagreb. He previously served as Apostolic Nuncio to Iraq, Jordan and Cuba. He had also worked in the papal representations in Ivory Coast and the United States as well as in the apostolic nunciatures in Italy and Serbia.

The meeting was attended by presidential foreign policy adviser Orsat Miljenić and the nuncio's adviser Janusz Stanislaw Blachowiak.

More news about relations between Croatia and Vatican can be found in the Politics section.

ZAGREB, March 19, 2020 - President Zoran Milanović addressed the nation on Wednesday, saying that Croatia has taken appropriate action to prevent the spread of the coronavirus pandemic and calling on the public to follow instructions from the National Civil Protection Authority.

"Today I signed a decision amending the Civil Protection Act giving greater powers to the National Civil Protection Authority. I expect all of us to seriously adhere to the instructions and decisions issued by the Authority because in this crisis that we are faced with, the state is working for our benefit and it is working a lot, and in my opinion it is doing a good job," Milanović said in an address to the nation which was aired by all national television stations.

"However, the personal responsibility of each of us, to adhere to the rules that we have been talking about for days, will make the difference between success and failure, between the length or shortness of this crisis, not necessarily between life and death," he underscored.

Milanović said that the crisis was addressed in a good way from the start. "The crisis, after all, is not so big. It is good that we approached it relatively seriously from the start and not at one moment did we fall victim to low or heavy feelings, much less panic, which is a word I do not wish to use at all," the president said.

Milanović said that Croatia was not at war, but in a crisis, facing a challenge. "We are in a crisis that will pass, I dare say, in a few months. However, its consequences, particularly its economic and social consequences, will remain. The question is when we will be able to fully open our borders and function the way we have virtually until yesterday," Milanović said.

"Like any crisis, this one too will end with a certain amount of damage done, but it will also teach us lessons that we will be able to rely upon when a new crisis comes upon us," he added.

"Economic damage will certainly be considerable, and we need to realise that and accept it. What the government is doing right now are temporary measures which I support. Their budgetary and monetary effects will be clearer to us from day to day, from week to week, and these measures will certainly be changed," the president said.

Milanović said he was encouraged by the fact that Croatia was doing more or less everything that its EU neighbours were doing, "some of which are among the richest and best organised countries in the world, with the best functioning public healthcare systems, yet things that we can call mistakes happen even there. This is a chance for us to show that we are mature people and responsible individuals."

Referring to stories that still not enough tests were being carried out in Croatia, he said that the public healthcare system was showing solid results, praising all healthcare professionals for their efforts.

More coronavirus news can be found in the Lifestyle section.

ZAGREB, March 17, 2020 - Croatian President Zoran Milanović submitted to the Conflict of Interest Commission his Declaration of Assets, which shows that he is the co-owner of two flats and two holiday houses and that in addition to a garage, some agricultural land, and a meadow, he also has a saving of HRK 850,000.

In the Declaration of Assets, which he submitted four days ago, President Milanović says his monthly salary is HRK 25,000, while his wife Sanja Musić Milanović, an employee of the Croatian Institute of Public Health (HZJZ), monthly earns HRK 14,000. In addition to that, the president's wife receives an additional HRK 6,800 from teaching.

Milanović and his wife own a 127-square-metre flat in Zagreb, appraised at nearly HRK 2 million, and Milanović is a co-owner of an inherited 77-square-metre flat, worth HRK 1.2 million, with his share being about 17%.

He also owns 17% of two holiday houses in Soline, a garage in Zagreb, two plots of agricultural land (in Soline and Glavice), and a meadow.

President's financial obligations include a loan of HRK 700,000, with a monthly payment of HRK 4,500 over 30 years. He is also repaying a car lease of HRK 80,000 for a Ford Focus, with a lease payment of HRK 1,300 per month.

Milanović has a saving of HRK 850,000, and he transferred the rights to the consulting company EuroAlba Advisor, which he had wholly owned, to a natural person.

The media have already written how that company had a profit of HRK 745,000 the year before last, and that its net profit was HRK 553,000.

More news about Zoran Milanović can be found in the Politics section.