Mesić: We must insist on the growth of production and exports

President of the Republic Stjepan Mesić stated today that Croatia must insist on the growth of production and exports as measures that will mitigate the impact of the global financial crisis on the situation in Croatia. He mentioned the funerals of veterans as one of the measures, in the context of the decision to pay military honors to all veterans at their funerals.

The President said that consumption in Croatia must not stop, as this would halt production as well. “If there is no consumption, we will stop production. We must not stop consumption. Plans are needed that will encourage production and exports,” Mesić said in the Croatian Radio program “With the President over Coffee.” In response to a journalist’s question to comment on Prime Minister Ivo Sanader’s statement that Croatia is “in a banana,” the President said that Sanader “wanted to express figuratively that things are not blooming for us” and that “we are also affected by the global crisis.”

Regarding the government’s plan of measures, he believes it is acceptable as a palliative measure, assessing that it is now necessary to move forward. Mesić stated that the Croatian economy needs “investments that will open jobs as early as tomorrow,” emphasizing that investments should be made “in production and exports, as that is the only thing that can save us.” He reminded that he was not taken seriously when he announced a possible crisis in Croatia at the Zagreb Fair, assessing that Croatia did not respond timely to those signs. There was no timely and serious response to the indicators, and probably prompted by what is happening, the Prime Minister wanted to figuratively warn people about the seriousness of the situation, Mesić said.

“The Prime Minister wanted to emphasize a bit more the dangers we are facing and the need to adopt measures that can help us overcome the crisis, which will last for some time,” he said, adding that the responsibility lies “with the government, which must help maintain our economy in foreign markets through measures.” Speaking about austerity measures, Mesić said that there are several infrastructure projects that can be discussed. Some, like the Zagreb airport, can be put out to concession, and regarding the Pelješac Bridge, it is necessary to determine “whether it is a priority” and how much has been spent so far, he said. If large money is needed for construction, we can freeze the construction and continue later, Mesić asserted, adding that it is necessary to connect Croatia, but it is not good to further burden the state with loans for that bridge. He also mentioned the funerals of veterans in the context of the decision to pay military honors to all veterans at their funerals.

“There are five funerals daily. For five funerals daily in various parts of Croatia, the army must send a platoon of soldiers with all honors, gun salutes, per diems, and everything that a funeral requires. This has so far engaged 13 thousand soldiers annually. There is potential for savings here,” Mesić assessed. He advocated for the idea that a “veteran should be sent off with a wreath on which it will be written who is sending him off, and it should not have to be like in the case when a soldier dies in war or when an active soldier dies.” Mesić supported the reforms being implemented in the country, emphasizing that we need judicial reform. We must respond to challenges, which include organized crime and corruption, because if we do not stop that, there will be no healthy economy, Mesić emphasizes, adding that the government “must deal with the implementation of legislation, and if it does, we will be satisfied, both we and Europe.”

Mesić agreed with Interior Minister Tomislav Karamarko and Police Director Vladimir Faber that the police need to be depoliticized. “The police system must be professional, and there must be no concessions here. Because if that were to happen, we would again have a crisis of accountability and crime detection,” he said. “Karamarko and Faber must implement what they have committed to – depoliticize the police and make it professional and independent,” Mesić emphasized. (Hina)