Zagreb (BETAPHOTO/EMIL VAS)
Croatian President Zoran Milanovic called Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic on Jan. 23 to join consultations regarding an invitation by U.S. President Donald Trump for Croatia to be included in Trump’s new Peace Board, making it clear that a decision needed to be based on a coordinated position between the President and the Government of Croatia.
The Croatian prime minister wrote on social media that he appreciated Trump’s invitation for Croatia to join the Peace Board, explaining that the Croatian government was “currently assessing the legal and other aspects of the proposal,” and that it will “cooperate constructively with our U.S. and European partners.” A statement issued by the Office of the President said that the cabinet had “in no way” consulted the Croatian president or sought his position on the invitation, adding that under the Constitution, the president and the government needed to work together on shaping and implementing foreign policy.
“President of the Republic of Croatia Zoran Milanovic calls on the prime minister for consultations to discuss all relevant information and the government’s actions so far regarding the invitation to Croatia to join the Peace Board. The president expects all information on this strategically important foreign policy issue from the prime minister,” the statement added.
The invitation from the U.S. president also drew a reaction from the leader of the opposition Social Democratic Party, Sinisa Hajdas Doncic. On behalf of the party, previously led by Milanovic, he sent an open letter to Prime Minister Plenkovic, the head of the ruling Croatian Democratic Union, urging him to present the government’s position to the Parliament before any decision was brought on joining the Peace Board, and to allow an open and transparent debate among lawmakers. The Social Democrats’ leader also said that it was concerning that none of the key EU member states, including Germany, France and Italy, had joined the initiative, while neighboring Slovenia had rejected it.
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