Ahead of the New Year celebrations, Croatian security services are ready.
Croatian Interior Minister Vlaho Orepić said on Saturday that Croatia was preventively in a heightened state of alert on the eve of the New Year’s celebrations, but added that there was no indication that an attack could occur, reports N1 on December 31, 2016.
“Croatia is currently at the third degree of alert, which includes increased security measures, especially in places where a large number of people will gather. At this point, there is no indication that something similar to the attack in Berlin could occur in Croatia, but we are ready to act preventively. The police will do everything for the holidays to be a pleasant experience for everyone”, said Orepić.
Asked how the police would prepare for the increased return of people from Eastern to Western Europe after the New Year’s holidays, Orepić said that they are aware of problems at bottlenecks, such as the area around Neum and neighbouring border crossings with Bosnia and Herzegovina, and added that services would be better prepared than they were on Christmas Eve. “We are aware of the problems in these areas, and we must reconcile the need for the implementation of security measures and the need for safety of traffic. I ask all citizens to be patient, we will do everything that the queues are shorter this time around and that waiting times are minimized”, said Orepić, adding that the police would be prepared better than on Christmas Eve when traffic jams occurred at border crossings.
Orepić (MOST) was also asked about the position of his party regarding the announcement by Prime Minister Plenković that the government would buy MOL’s share in INA by privatizing a part of the Croatian Electric Company (HEP). Orepić replied that they would do everything which is in the interest of citizens. “I cannot say anything more about it”, he said.
Finally, Interior Minister Orepić announced that a temporary border crossing should be opened at the area of Prevlaka in southern Croatia as early as this summer, which would relieve the current border crossing near Cavtat.
