Božinović: No indication borders should be closed

Interior Minister and head of the National Civil Protection Authority, Davor Božinović, said on Friday that adhering to epidemiological measures was important in preventing the spread of coronavirus, adding that there was no indication that the borders should be closed.

"It is very important that we all adhere to the measures," Bozinovic underlined while electioneering in the 6th electoral constituency, adding that the measures were being adhered to during election rallies.

"We are monitoring the situation on the borders and there is no indication for the time being that the borders should be closed. We will adopt the necessary measures depending on the situation that will enable economic and other activities to continue while protecting public health," he said.

With reference to people coming from Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia, Bozinovic said that Croatia had not opened its borders entirely except for about ten EU member states.

"Citizens from Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia have to fulfil certain conditions to enter Croatia. They have to have a special reason for their travel. At the moment there isn't any full liberalisation towards those countries and whether there will be any more stringent measures depends on the situation," he added.

Bozinovic recommended that people do not travel to countries that have a poor epidemiological situation, without any specific need.

With regard to tourists who may be potentially infected, Bozinovic said that the Croatian Public Health Institute (HZJZ), in cooperation with the Tourism Ministry, had already issued some instructions while specific instructions were almost completed and would be released shortly.

Grabar-Kitarovic not only one, it's a movement

Bozinovic did not wish to comment on a post by former president Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic with her middle finger raised in reaction to a statement by leader of the Homeland Movement Miroslav Skoro and some other politicians regarding abortion and which Skoro later said was vulgar.

"It would be good in this campaign for people to responsibly approach grave issues facing society, for us to discuss everything because that is a pledge for a better future," said Bozinovic.

He added that Grabar-Kitarovic  was not the only one to have reacted in that way. "A larger group of women reacted that way on social networks. She chose that way to send a message and that's her choice," said Bozinovic, adding that he did not consider her gesture vulgar.

Arrested police officers cast shadow on honourable work

With regard to the police officers who were arrested in Karlovac because they injured a migrant, Bozinovic said that he was glad that that had happened.

"Those police officers did not behave well or legally and in one way they cast a shadow on an honourable job. The thing that is good and that we are communicating when it comes to treatment of illegal migrants - every time a police officer identifies any illegal conduct, particularly when it involves the police, they react promptly in accordance with the law and evidence gathered," he said.

That is the best example, he noted, of how the police react to any possible or real incidents in which the victims may be migrants, if there is evidence of that. The police have already charged some police officers because of their treatment of migrants.

Asked whether that meant that accusations by some NGOs about police treatment of migrants is right, Bozinovic said that that in fact says they are not right.

Text:Hina

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