Croatian President Zoran Milanovic is against the potential expansion of NATO, and he also tells that Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) will not get a permit to join due to the so-called Croatian issue.
He explained such an attitude by the fact that Croatian soldiers will have to go to Ukraine if that country becomes a member of the Alliance, and he said that BiH will never join NATO because it requires the approval of Croatia as well.
Speaking about the crisis between Russia and Ukraine, ie the conflict between NATO and Russia on the expansion of the Alliance to former members of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR), Milanovic clearly said that NATO should not expand to Ukraine.
“I believe that the one who advocates the expansion of NATO to Ukraine also endangers the Croatian interest. Because we are in NATO, someone can send our people there tomorrow. NATO has come enough to Eastern Europe, I’ve been watching it all my life, my whole damn life, but it’s enough. As long as I am president of Croatia, I will not support NATO‘s further expansion,” he mentioned.
This statement of the Croatian president is contrary to the open–door policy of NATO, and Milanovic clearly emphasized that he is against any expansion of the Alliance, including in BiH.
“It is possible to join NATO according to political criteria. Enough. Let’s say, tomorrow, a country like Montenegro will join NATO. When I accept someone into my family, I want to know who it is. BiH in NATO? How? There, they oppressCroats, it is not a real state, it is non-functional and they should enter NATO? They are still under the illusion that they will enter. How? You will never enter because everyone needs to give permission. Both Croatia and Turkey,” he stated.
Milanovic also said he would work to block elections in BiH.
“If no agreement is reached, then the elections should not be held. I will do my best to prevent elections. The European Union (EU) diplomatic branch advocates a position that is completely contrary to the interests of Croats in BiH. Now I ask you where we are, who helps us, and what kind of solidarity is this? Let them go to Livno to see what it looks like. When Croatia says that, it is interference in the internal interests of BiH, and when someone from Brussels says that, then it is a common policy,” Milanovic concluded.
E.Dz.
Source: Klix.ba
