Milanović: It is good that the Croatian army being equipped, prices are another matter

President Zoran Milanović said that he supports all acquisitions that increase the capabilities of the Croatian Army, pointing out that the new equipment, after the purchase, will be permanently Croatian.

“We are waiting for a series of contracts on the purchase and modernization of weapons, which, when we buy and pay for them, will be ours. I am the supreme commander and I cannot be against any transaction that will eventually result in a larger asset for the Croatian Army. Everything that the Croatian army gets more, which it doesn't currently have, is good. The price and the factors involved are another matter,” said the President of the Republic Zoran Milanović in Nova Gradiška, talking about the stay of the Prime Minister and a Croatian delegation in France, where the signing of a contract on the purchase of military equipment for the Croatian army is planned.

“However, all this equipment, the purchase of which will be signed today, will come to Croatia and be available and in the function of the defense of the country in about five years, not sooner. Two world wars end in five years. This is because Croatia cannot fight for better things and nobody can because nobody is able to produce that amount for that price and that is our reality,” President Milanović added.

Speaking about the general state of European industry, President Milanović emphasized that "everything that goes into the material strengthening of Croatia and everything that can pull the Croatian economy in the direction of strengthening production - that's good and that's how it should be".

“I look at what came from the European Union, how much money came from Brussels and what that money went to. Kindergartens, libraries - it's all your money, the original budget and direct funds from the budget. You got money for the innovation center. It is not production. When the European Union distributes money from those who have more to those who have less, it is careful not to directly give money for production,” said President Milanović at a ceremonial of the City Council of the City of Nova Gradiška on the occasion of City Day and the feast of the Parish of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Source: HRT