ZAGREB, October 11, 2019 – Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior Davor Božinović said on Friday that there was no danger that the ruling coalition would fall apart, stressing that an early parliamentary election was always possible and that the ruling HDZ party was ready for it.
“There is no danger, this government has demonstrated its openness to dialogue. Stopping dialogue at the moment when it starts definitely does not contribute to the settlement of issues bothering anyone,” Božinović said, adding that elections were an integral part of politics and were always possible.
“The HDZ is ready for elections at any moment, both in terms of organisation and in terms of finance. But let us talk and find a solution,” he stressed.
Reporters asked Božinović why the question of Croatia’s accession to the Schengen Area had been moved to October 22, to which he said that it was so because of the approaching Brexit date and the start of Albania and North Macedonia’s EU entry talks.
He also said that he did not have any new information on missing Croatian seafarer Dino Miškić, whose Bourbon Rhode ship sank in the Atlantic on September 26. “I am certain that the government is doing its best, including its offer to co-finance the continuation of the search for Captain Miškić. We want to solve that problem.”
Božinović was speaking to the press at a conference of the Croatian Platform for Reducing the Risk of Disasters, which was organised by the Ministry’s Civil Protection Directorate.
“The Platform, as a model or how to gather the know-how on natural and human disasters, is a very important topic. This initiative encourages cooperation between all those dealing with phenomena that are important for human security and work not only at state but also research institutions and as professionals dealing with certain issues on a daily basis,” the minister said.
He said that merging some services with the new Civil Protection Directorate was a way of integrating competencies in dealing with disasters.
“It should be integrated into a system that will provide us with ideas and solutions for disasters. The situation is complex and we cannot afford to ignore any profession that is not part of state institutions. We are opening up to all who can contribute to citizens’ security,” said Božinović.
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