Prime Minister congratulates Trump on election win

Prime Minister Andrej Plenković, in the introduction of today’s Government session, referred to yesterday's Q&A session in Parliament. “I believe that we all together answered all the questions of the representatives where we tried to explain the policies of the Government of the Republic of Croatia,” he said.

He said that one of the main topics was the one concerning NATO's security and training support to Ukraine.

“I think that with facts and information we have completely unmasked all the misinformation and manipulations that existed and untruths in the public space, first of all generated by president Zoran Milanović's statements, and then followed by the opposition representatives,” said Prime Minister Andrej Plenković.

Plenković: Croatia's participation in NATO's activities does not represent entry into the war

“After the visit of the Acting Secretary General of NATO, it is really clear to everyone that Croatia's participation in that NATO activity does not represent entry into the war, it does not represent any fact that we might eventually become someone who supports a belligerent party, but on the contrary, we support the victim of Russian aggression, Ukraine, as we have for two and a half years and that policy is consistent,” he said.

“Now it is clear to the sparrows that Croatian soldiers should never have gone to Ukraine, nor are they going according to this decision by Croatian Parliament, but are going to Wiesbaden. It is normal, if the activity is related to supporting Ukraine, that this activity has some liaison officers, but they are in no way connected to where the Croatian officers should be, and it is logical that they are in Ukraine if the weapons are delivered to Ukraine,” said Plenković.

Congratulations to Trump on his victory

He also congratulated the newly elected President Donald Trump on his victory in the American elections.

He said he expects the US to play a leading role in resolving the issue of Russian aggression against Ukraine and the war in the Middle East.

“I would like to congratulate the newly elected, for the second time, President of the USA, Donald Trump, who convincingly won the elections. In this way, the long-awaited and major electoral event in the most influential country in the world has been completed,” said Plenković at the beginning of the Government session.

He added that he expects continued quality cooperation with the future administration of President Trump.

In this sense, he recalled the abolition of visas for Croatian citizens and the entry into the American visa exemption program, as well as the "branched" cooperation between the two countries in numerous areas - defense, energy, tourism and economic sectors.

“Given the numerous challenges the world is facing, we expect a constructive US policy and its leading role in solving the issue of Russian aggression against Ukraine and the ongoing war in the Middle East, as well as other crisis hotspots. We respect the will of the American voters, we look forward to continued cooperation,” said the Prime Minister.

Congratulations to Šuica as well

He also congratulated commissioner in the European Commission, Dubravka Šuica, who yesterday had a hearing in front of the European Parliament committee for a new portfolio, a new department that Ursula von der Leyen has in the second commission, which is the issue of the Mediterranean and the issue of demography.

“Yesterday, she received the support of European representatives and political groups for a new, important portfolio, especially nowadays. We wish her success in this, and I am sure that we as a country, through her activities in the next five years, will further profile ourselves as a Mediterranean country,” he added.

“We were also at the anniversary of the Faculty of Law. Congratulations on that anniversary. Minister Fuchs is at University Day in Zagreb today, so there is a lot of activity and cooperation with the academic community,” he said.

“The prices of oil derivatives have also been reduced, which is good for our citizens and the economy,” he pointed out.

He expressed his condolences to Spain and Serbia

He also expressed his condolences to the Spanish Prime Minister and the people for the tragedy that occurred in the huge floods that hit them, where more than 200 people lost their lives, and his condolences to the Prime Minister of Serbia and the Serbian people for the tragedy in Novi Sad.

“Also, I would like to point out that tomorrow is the meeting of the European Political Community in Budapest and after that the meeting of the European Council. The topics are primarily the political discussion in relations with the USA after the elections and the report of the former Italian Prime Minister Draghi on the competitiveness of Europe in relation to other countries and global circumstances,” said the Prime Minister.

Source: HRT