Plenković: Are key international organizations functioning?

Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković criticized the lack of reactions of key international bodies to large-scale global crises and highlighted the UN Security Council as an example of such dysfunctionality.

“The most important body of the world established after 1945 has not declared anything important, let alone the Russian aggression on Ukraine and the war in the Middle East,” Andrej Plenković said in his opening address at the Forum of the International Democratic Union (IDU) in Zagreb. He also said that given the paralysis of the UN Security Council due to the right of veto, in the midst of a crisis of such proportions, we can ask whether key international organizations are functioning at all.

“The situation is changing, we see that Russian aggression against Ukraine continues, China's authoritarian ambitions are growing, Iran and its satellites continue to destabilize the Middle East. The transatlantic alliance is faced with many questions related to defense, capabilities and courage. Despite this, our family of parties continues to lead in governments, oppositions, big and small cities, defending what is most important: freedom, democracy and the rule of law,” said Stephen Harper, President of the International Democratic Union and former Canadian Prime Minister.

“It seems that the world, which was once believed to be based on multilateralism and international law, does not meet the two main expectations that were the mantra for most of our parties and international organizations," said the Croatian Prime Minister.

“The world that we once had and thought was based on international law no longer meets the two main points that were the mantras. Today, for example, we see the war in Ukraine. You can ask yourself whether international law applies there, whether it even exists? That is more of a substantive than a rhetorical question,” said Prime Minister Plenković.

“We can conclude that the world is changing and that we cannot return to the time as it was before. We cannot afford to just sit and wait, thinking that security and stability will return by themselves. The faster we adapt, the better we will be able to defend our citizens,” said Gordan Jandroković, the Croatian Parliament Speaker, at the IDU conference.

Jandroković: Radical Left Attacks the Foundations of Civilization

“The radical left is attacking the fundamental pillars on which "our civilization" is built - Christianity, national identity, traditional values and family,” said Jandroković at the IDU forum.

“They are aggressively imposing their worldview, trying to present it as universal, but we will not accept it. It is our responsibility to protect our values and fight for our heritage and the future of our children,” said Jandroković, adding that IDU members need to do more to defend the threatened peace, freedom and democracy and its institutions.

As examples of challenges, he cited global conflicts that have caused human suffering, increased insecurity, led to disruptions in supply chains, and thus increased energy and food prices.

“International law is constantly being undermined. The list is long and far from exhaustive. All of this is reshaping the world landscape in a way that is only beginning to be fully understood. The world is changing and we cannot expect a return to life in the order we are used to,” Jandroković said.

He said that external challenges are only part of the bigger picture and that societies with weak institutions and declining public trust in politics are more exposed to dangerous influences, citing information manipulation and foreign interference as examples, as well as the spread of extremist ideas and hatred. He stressed that in response to threats and pressures, it is necessary to deepen cooperation "among us, and especially with key partners", saying that the transatlantic relationship has been an "anchor" of common interests and values and the foundation of collective defense for decades.

Center-Right Party Forum

The IDU Forum in Zagreb brings together around 250 representatives of parties from around 50 countries around the world, and the event is hosted by the Croatian Democratic Union at the Esplanade Hotel in Zagreb.

“Among other topics, political leaders will discuss transatlantic relations in the new geopolitical era, the European perspective of Southeast Europe, migration and demographic challenges, security architecture and the strategic autonomy of the European Union,” the statement added.

The IDU Forum is largely closed to the public, and Prime Minister Plenković will meet on the sidelines with the IDU President, former Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper, High Representative to Bosnia and Herzegovina Christian Schmidt and former Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, who are participating in the gathering.

Surce: HRT