Milanović claims he did not know how Croatia would vote at the UN

(Patria) - The office of Croatian President Zoran Milanović issued a statement following yesterday's vote on a UN resolution calling for an immediate, permanent, and sustainable humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza.

Fourteen countries voted against it, including Croatia, as well as Israel and the US, and among EU members, Austria, Hungary, and the Czech Republic.

Most EU member states abstained, while France, Spain, Slovenia, Portugal, Ireland, and Belgium voted "yes".

"Croatia's Ambassador to the United Nations voted in the UN General Assembly against the resolution calling for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire and cessation of hostilities in Gaza solely on the orders of the Government of the Republic of Croatia.

The Office of the President of the Republic of Croatia was neither consulted nor informed about the position that the Croatian Ambassador to the UN would represent on behalf of Croatia.

This is not the first time the Government of the Republic of Croatia has not consulted the President of the Republic on foreign policy decisions, thus violating its constitutional obligation to co-create Croatia's foreign policy with the President of the Republic.

However, in this delicate case, the Government of the Republic of Croatia, with its thoughtless and harmful decision, has marked the Republic of Croatia as an opponent of peace and a violator of international humanitarian law, thereby causing long-term damage to Croatia's international reputation.

It is even more dangerous that the Government of the Republic of Croatia, with its decision, has unnecessarily compromised national security and exposed Croatia to potential threats, for which it will have to bear full responsibility. Croatia should have abstained during the vote on the aforementioned resolution, as did most EU member states.

It is difficult to understand the reasons that led the Government of the Republic of Croatia to deviate so obviously from advocating for peace and respecting humanitarian law, unless this case also involves the personal political interests and positioning of Prime Minister Andrej Plenković.

Furthermore, it is now undoubtedly clear to everyone why the Prime Minister of the Republic of Croatia does not want an agreement on personnel changes in Croatian diplomacy: Andrej Plenković wants to retain existing diplomats who unquestioningly carry out his political orders.

The vote of the Ambassador to the UN, without prior consultation and agreement with the President of the Republic, has proven how Andrej Plenković has turned Croatian diplomacy into a service for his obedient followers," stated Milanović's Office.