(transcript)
On agreement between Brussels and Croatia on “Lex Perković”
“The problem is solved, the law is on its way to the government, a solution will be found on Thursday, and then it is going to parliament. The matter has already been resolved earlier and all the problems have been dealt with.”
On the impression that the government did not communicate well with either the Croatian citizens or the EU regarding the EAW
“I am also a member of the government and I do not agree with this assessment. I believe this is only a matter of sequence and steps. Nothing has been lost, there are certain rules within the EU which as a member we will, must and should respect. For the part which we believe is not entirely fair and equal for all countries, we have a possibility and space to advocate that it be changed. That is how well-regulated countries do it: first you respect the rules, and if you disagree with them, you advocate that they be changed.”
Did Croatia really need this two months after the entry?
I do not know. Things do not always go smoothly, which is why it is important to talk and negotiate in order to reach a solution that eliminates the possibility of any negative consequences for Croatia. That has been done, and we have to accept the fact that there will be different opinions in different situations, even within the government itself. In my opinion, that is one of the advantages of coalition governments: the ability to discuss everything and solve the problem.”
On tomorrow’s meeting on the economic role of women in peacebuilding, chaired by Croatia
“That is an important discussion and pertains to our own experience, the building of peacetime, lasting conditions in post-conflict countries. The meeting will discuss the role of women in economic recovery of a country (i.e. jobs, employment, salaries). One of the UN researches has shown that in poor, usually conflict-ridden countries, 90% of women’s salaries is being invested back in the family, while the same is the case for only 40% of men’s salaries. The education and employment of women de facto means a more stable recovery of the society as a whole. President Josipović has just attended the “Education First” discussion, which was also attended by Malala, a Pakistani girl fighting for the right to education, especially the education of girls, which is one of the priorities of Croatia’s development assistance. The former archbishop of Cape Town, Desmond Tutu, presented a portable school desk for school children who do not have one, which is why they have difficulties learning how to write in Africa. I received one as a present from him. He has distributed a million of these desks, I think, and plans to distribute 20 million more by 2020. These are the projects that Croatia supports and are an example of a great and practical idea that should be followed.”