Croatia leader says 'I can't educate you' over 'Slava Ukraini' usage
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The Croatian President Zoran Milanovic compares 'Slava Ukraini' to Nazi-like Ustasha chants and reaffirms that his country must remain nonaligned.
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Croatian President Zoran Milanovic addresses dignitaries after taking the oath in Zagreb, Croatia, Feb. 18, 2020. (AP)
Croatian President Zoran Milanovic, who has found himself on the Ukrainian Myrotvorets website's 'hit list' for refusing to side with Kiev, said, on Wednesday, that there is “no difference” between the phrase “Slava Ukraini,” meaning "Glory to Ukraine," and the chant used by the Ustasha, a Croatian World War II-era Nazi group, that chanted “Za dom spremni” meaning "For the Homeland, Ready."
Milanovic argued “There’s no difference between ZDS and Glory to Ukraine," adding “That’s the chant of the most radical chauvinists of Western Ukraine, who worked with the Nazis and killed thousands of Jews and Poles.”
The President highlighted “I don’t want to hear it in Croatia," explaining “I don’t care that some leaders seem to like it,” and reaffirmed “They should come up with a different slogan.”
Moreover, Milanovic said “I’ve been suffering like Jesus to get people to stop using ZDS,” adding “if you don’t understand why, I can’t educate you.”
Milanovic urged Croatian politicians to “stay away from both Russia and Ukraine” because “Kiev is far away, and Moscow even farther.”
Croatia leader slams West talk about tearing Russia apart as madness
Earlier this year, in Januaryhe, the President of Croatia called the Western supply of arms to Kiev madness, noting that the weapons provided to Ukraine, including the battle tanks will extend the war.
“I am against sending any lethal arms there,” Milanovic said. “It prolongs the war.” “What is the goal? Disintegration of Russia, change of the government? There is also talk of tearing Russia apart. This is mad,” said Milanovic.
Croatia is a NATO member, and its president has repeatedly called on the country not to be part of the alliance's hostility toward Russia since the beginning of the war in Ukraine.
Although the president's post in Croatia is ceremonial, the president in the EU country is also the chief of the armed forces.
Read more: US, NATO in proxy war against Russia in Ukraine: Croatian President
