The only way to deal with crisis is to stay and act together

Russia's invasion of Ukraine has changed global circumstances and produced pernicious consequences not only for Ukraine but also for all of us in Europe, Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković said in Dubrovnik on Saturday.

Addressing the 15th Dubrovnik Forum, which brought together about 40 ministers and other office holders from central, south and southeastern Europe and officials from some of European institutions and international organisations, PM Plenković said that the war launched by Russia "has pernicious consequences not only for Ukraine but also for all of us in Europe."

"These are very unfortunate circumstances for the economy, energy and the crisis concerning food supplies which is in full swing."

Energy price hikes push us in a position that requires from us concerted actions and intervention at the national levels so that our industries can be provided with the sufficient sources of energy and that households can make ends meet, the Croatian PM said.

He recalls that his cabinet has adopted a HRK 5 billion (€667 million) package of support to households and small and medium-sized enterprises.

Commenting on the developments in Ukraine, Plenković said that 30 years ago Croatia had also been exposed to the military aggression and to the rhetoric resembling Russia's claims about de-Nazification, while the country had actually been faced with the attempts to deny its national identity.

"We support Ukraine politically, diplomatically, economy-wise, financially and militarily and we will continue supporting it together with our partners and allies in the West. We are also providing refuge for over 20,000 Ukrainian refugees," said Plenković.

Our political support is also evident in having granted EU candidate status to Ukraine two weeks ago, he added.

Measure taken against Russia were swift, strong and rigorous, the Croatian PM said underscoring the importance of international law.

The international order based on the rule of law is essential. This war is actually the conflict between democracies and authoritarian regimes and we must be aware that it is at the essence of what we witness to now, he explained.

According to Plenković, there are several factors showing why Russia launched the military aggression in February 2022.

We must say that the withdrawal from Afghanistan had not been performed at very dignified manner. Those who follow power games at the international level could have perceived that as a sign of weakness, Plenković said referring to the withdrawal of the United States troops from Afghanistan in the summer of 2021.

Furthermore, the USA was more focused on the relations with China, and in Germany there was the end of the era of the rule of Chancellor Angela Merkel and the start of the formation of a new coalition government. With Brexit, the UK  changed its international position, said Plenković.

He added that the scenario with the invasion of Georgia in 2008 when Beijing hosted the Summer Olympic Games recurred now in Ukraine.

The invasion of Ukraine started now when Beijing hosted Winter Olympic Games, said Plenković.

Food shortages in Africa can lead to destabilisation of vulnerable countries

Plenković warns that the war in Ukraine has already caused food shortages in Africa, and the fallout could be the weakening and destabilisation of vulnerable countries.

The consequences will be poverty and famine  and new migration tides with many of them heading to the European Union, he said.

Dependence on Russia fossil fuels

Croatia opened its first LNG terminal in January 2021, and it plans to increase those capacities from 2.5 to 6.1 billion cubic metres of liquefied gas, he said adding that Croatia's demand for gas is 2.8 billion cubic metres annually.

Thus Croatia can help its neighbours: Slovenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Hungary and Austria, in efforts to meet their gas needs and Plenković also promised help to all who would like to use the Krk LNG terminal capacities.

Croatia committed to equality of all three peoples in BiH

In his speech, Plenković highlighted Zagreb's support to the countries in the neighbourhood that would like to join the European Union, notably Bosnia and Herzegovina. 

Croatia is committed to the equality of all the three peoples in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Croats, the least numerous people in BiH, must not again fall victim to the electoral engineering, he said adding that his cabinet is trying to help reach those goals "in a cooperative and not conflicting manner".

Text: Hina

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