ZAGREB, February 15, 2020 – Outgoing President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović on Saturday posted on Facebook a farewell to the Croatian public at the end of her five-year term, saying history would speak of her work objectively and that she was proud of what was done.
“I discharged the presidential duty deeply convinced that the political, moral and cultural values which guided us for centuries in the struggle for national freedom and state independence, notably in the Homeland War, are the foundation for building a strong state and a just society. The interests of the Croatian people, state and all citizens I defended and promoted with dignity and responsibility, as stipulated by the Constitution, above anyone’s and any partial interests,” she said.
Grabar-Kitarović said the situation in society and the state she encountered when stepping into office demanded that she define the priorities of the state policy, including demographic revitalisation, stronger homeland security, alleviating social divisions and stronger international positioning.
“I proposed solutions to decentralisation problems, overall economic development and balanced regional development, branding, education, social justice, emigrants, care for Croats in Bosnia and Herzegovina and neighbouring states as well as foreign policy initiatives.”
Grabar-Kitarović said she paid special attention to Croatia’s international position which “today is better than ever” and that she initiated the Three Seas Initiative to that end. “Thereby I gave our foreign policy a quality tool for strengthening Croatia’s position on the international scene, first and foremost within Central Europe and the Mediterranean. Today, Croatia thinks Croatian and acts European and globally.”
The outgoing president said this was a jubilee year for Croatia’s democracy and victory in the Homeland War. “We have achieved the fundamental historical goals, but new, perhaps bigger challenges lie ahead. How much we progress depends on the goals we set and the will to achieve them.”
She said she wanted “a Croatia which lives, not dies, a Croatia which cares for every Croat and every citizen, a Croatia which is safe and stands firmly in the world.”
She said national reconciliation and unity must remain the signposts in building the state and that the challenges faced, notably demography, would require “a high degree of political agreement and national unity.”
“Croatia wasn’t created incidentally, it has historical reasons to exist. Croatia isn’t a small, powerless or unsuccessful state. It’s a privilege to live in it,” Grabar-Kitarović said.
She went on to say that children and young people “deserve our biggest attention and care… let’s give them an opportunity for the best education possible, for a family life and parenthood, for work and professional success.”
Education and science, political administration, the political system, welfare and healthcare “demand resolute reforms,” she said. “We must build a state which is more accountable to citizens, with as little administration and political arbitration as possible, which is the biggest generator of corruption. The state should be a service to its citizens, not a repressive apparatus which hinders life and development. We must promote a modern, stable state which bravely deals with challenges and actively participates in international processes.”
She said she would continue to “encourage the spirit of unity, social accountability, optimism and national pride.”
Speaking of President-elect Zoran Milanović, she said, “I hope he will continue to strengthen the constitutional status and social reputation of the institute of president of the republic… I wish him all the success and that will be Croatia’s success.”
Grabar-Kitarović concluded by saying that she was confident of a good future for Croatia and its people.
More news about Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović can be found in the Politics section.
