Milanović on VSOA Chief: Plenković is blackmailing me, national security is compromised

(Patria) - Croatian President Zoran Milanović held a press conference today where he spoke about the situation in the Military Security and Intelligence Agency and that the director of VSOA is chosen exclusively by agreement between the president and the prime minister. However, Milanović and Andrej Plenković have not discussed this.

Milanović stated today that HDZ and Prime Minister Andrej Plenković are blackmailing him like a cartel regarding the appointment of the director of the Military Security and Intelligence Agency (VSOA), and said that he will not communicate with the Minister of Defense because he is just a "errand boy".

"This is a serious attempt to disrupt constitutional and legal rules. I say this as someone who participated in the creation of personnel solutions, such as the appointment of the director of VSOA, which is one of the three agencies whose chief is chosen and appointed exclusively by agreement between the president and the prime minister," Milanović emphasized.

Milanović again invited Prime Minister Plenković to talk and reach an agreement - so we can see who is to blame, he said.

When asked who will lead VSOA in a week after the current director's term expires, he said it will be whoever is agreed upon at the meeting he initiated.

"At the meeting, coordination will be agreed within the scope of authority so as not to endanger the system further when Plenković is trying to destroy it. I do not argue with the minister, he is a man who is currently at liberty. I argue with entities, he represents an errand boy here," said the Croatian president.

He also emphasized that national security is compromised.

"When the prime minister has been refusing to talk with the supreme commander and the president of the Republic for months, it has an impact on national security. It is not endangered when someone, confused and unhappy, shoots at the Banski dvori where the Prime Minister is not present. That is a smaller problem than this. And then the Prime Minister blames me for it as the instigator of this vehement madness that had a flashpoint at one moment and thankfully nothing afterwards," he said.