Croatia President: People have to know we stand by them

by croatiaweek
December 30, 2020
in News

(PHOTO: Office of the President of the Republic of Croatia / Filip Glas)

ZAGREB, Dec 30 (Hina) – President Zoran Milanovic expressed his condolences on Wednesday to the families of those who died in Majske Poljane, which was one of the worst hit villages during Tuesday’s devastating earthquake, adding that “the people have to know we stand by them.”

As long as we don’t need great international aid, it can mean that the disaster remains within the limits of normality which, we unfortunately in Croatia have become accustomed to and that it’s time for a new start each time, Milanovic told reporters in Majske Poljane a village in the vicinity of Glina, some 60 kilometres southeast of Zagreb.

(PHOTO: Office of the President of the Republic of Croatia / Filip Glas)

“At this time they have to know we are with them and that we are all together at times like this with equal rights for a new start,” said Milanovic, adding that “unfortunately, that new start in our history has occurred a little too often.”

“Five people died here, that is bad,” he said, thanking everyone who is helping in removing the consequences of the earthquake.

(PHOTO: Office of the President of the Republic of Croatia / Filip Glas)

Responding to reporters regarding the Croatian Army as its supreme commander, Milanovic claimed that it was doing the best it could but unfortunately there was no water in Petrinja and the army was resolving that by distributing water tanks.

(PHOTO: Office of the President of the Republic of Croatia / Filip Glas)

Croatia president visit earthquke site 4

(PHOTO: Office of the President of the Republic of Croatia / Filip Glas)

Asked about aid from other countries, Milanovic said that aid can be collected quickly that is not a problem noting how Albania’s prime minister had informed him that Albania has donated €250,000 because it cannot afford anymore, “even though that is not an insignificant amount for a country like that.”

(PHOTO: Office of the President of the Republic of Croatia / Filip Glas)

He assessed that reconstruction would be more difficult in the area than it was in the eastern village of Gunja after it was hit by flooding in the spring of 2014. This is worse than a flood because it hasn’t stopped and the people are distraught, concluded Milanovic.