Croatian President Zoran Milanović does not want to deal with the letter in which Croatian Defense Minister Mario Banožić asks him to contribute to the training of Ukrainian soldiers in Croatia, the presidential office announced on Tuesday.
The Constitution of the Republic of Croatia stipulates that only the Government of the Republic of Croatia, the President of the Republic of Croatia and possibly the Croatian Parliament are competent to make such decisions." - reads the press release.
Moreover, the letter does not detail the activities of Croatian soldiers abroad and Ukrainian soldiers in Croatia, it only contains general information of the European Union Military Assistance Mission (EUMAM Ukraine), they added.
The defense minister's letter refers to the article of the constitution according to which the armed forces of the allied countries can cross the Croatian border and carry out activities within the country based on an international agreement, with the consent of the Croatian parliament, at the proposal of the government and with the prior approval of the president.
However, according to the presidential office, this article would only be applicable if Ukraine were an allied state, but in that sense it is not. Ukraine is not a member of any international alliance in which Croatia participates, which would oblige Zagreb to provide it with military assistance, and no international treaty creates a basis for the activities of Ukrainian soldiers in Croatia, the statement reads.
Source: 888.hu
Featured image: EPA-EFE/FILIP SINGER
