“After the adoption of a declaration condemning Russia’s aggression and expressing support to Ukraine in February, as well as the Crimea Platform summit, I hope that this decision will only upgrade our position towards Ukraine,” Minister Grlić Radman said, adding that he was hopeful that the Croatian parliament would adopt the right decision on 15 December.
“The World Cup is another foreign policy topic. We are a small nation, but extremely visible in terms of sports. Football is a big promotion for Croatia,” the minister said for the Croatian Radiotelevision.
He commented on the government’s proposal on assistance to Ukraine, which was discussed in the parliament, underscoring that this mission was also advancing our relations with countries in the EU’s immediate neighbourhood.
Asked whether Croatia could be “sucked into” the war in Ukraine by training Ukrainian troops, Grlić Radman said it could not.
“We want to avoid any provocation, but that does not mean we don’t want to help Ukrainians in their just fight,” he added.
Bad relations between president and government harm Croatia
Commenting on the president’s call for a meeting of the National Security Council, Grlić Radman said the president was late, as the prime minister had called for it immediately after Russia’s aggression, but the president had not replied.
“Bad relations between the president and the government harm Croatia. All government’s efforts are being dismissed, while the president is using every opportunity to send a negative message. The president’s statements hurt Croatia’s reputation,” the minister said.
He believes that the president should augment the reputation and dignity of a country.
Asked whether there was any headway in the president’s approval of the choice of ambassadors, Grlić Radman said there was not.
“The Vatican recently asked me when Croatia would appoint its ambassador there. I told them that the government has its candidate, but that the president disapproved of the choice. The same goes for the candidate in Paris,” he said.
Commenting on Croatia’s joining the Schengen Area, the minister said all would go well.
Serbia has condemned Russia’s aggression, but is unwilling to impose sanctions, which is now directly requested from it.
“Condemnation is not enough. It has to be shown in action,” stressed Grlić Radman.
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