Plenkovic: I've been doing all I can to reduce divisions and tensions in society

Plenkovic was speaking to the press in Zagreb on Sunday evening after opening the workshop "Digitisation of Public Services". He spoke about projects for which Zagreb mayor Milan Bandic was seeking government support, about an incident in Parliament between him and Nikola Grmoja of the opposition Bridge party, and about the situation in Vukovar.

The prime minister said he could see no connection between the projects for which Bandic was seeking government support and an early election. There is no doubt, he said, that making support of Bandic's parliamentary group for the ruling majority conditional on support for his projects 'is an imposed issue that does not exist.'

This government has established partnerships and dialogue with regional and local government units, and basically all of them are allocated more money as a result of legislative reforms. Some units may have received less because of their development, he added.

Asked about his conflict during Question Time in Parliament with Bridge MP Nikola Grmoja, who accused him and Foreign Minister Marija Pejcinovic Buric of high treason and working in Serbia's interests, Plenkovic said that this issue should be seen in a wider context.

-There are parties that want to impose Croatia-Serbia relations and relations between the Croats and the Serb minority in Croatia as key issues, and in a polarising way. If you have people who would block Serbia's EU accession negotiations in chapters concerning statistics, economic and monetary union, then you are dealing with people who do not understand this subject, but use it to intensify the spiral of hatred. Accusing the deputy prime minister and foreign minister of working in Serbia's interests and accusing the prime minister of systematically working in the interests of Serbia is a matter that cannot be ignored and I made that clear in Parliament - Plenkovic said.

Asked about the latest incidents in Vukovar and statements by mayor Ivan Penava, the prime minister reiterated that he had spoken to him several times in the last few months.

- I expect him to do his work by reducing tensions. His task is to be the mayor of all citizens of Vukovar - he said.

Plenkovic noted that Penava had been elected mayor thanks in part to the support of the local Serb community and that he should make sure he did not make any move that would cause tensions in the town.

- We as the government and as the state must move forward based on fundamental prerequisites such as truth, bringing war criminals to account, respecting the symbols of the Croatian state - the flag, national anthem and coat of arms, and investing in the education of young people who show respect for the country of which they are citizens - the prime minister said.

- I have been doing all I can in these two and a half years to reduce divisions and tensions in the Croatian society. In this process I have taken upon myself a lot of things and a huge part of the electorate does not consider it good. Anyway, I am fully confident that what I am doing is good and that there is no alternative to a coexistence, dialogue, education and mutual respect. But war crimes cases must be fully dealt with - Plenkovic said.

Digitisation of public services

Speaking at the opening of the workshop "Digitisation of Public Services", which will be conducted by Harvard University professors at the State School of Public Administration, Plenkovic said that this was a valuable project that would focus on the complex healthcare system over the next three days.

The workshop is the result of cooperation between the State School of Public Administration and Harvard University. At the opening ceremony, the executive director of Harvard Kennedy School, Amy Capman, and the head of the State of School of Public Administration, Rudolf Vujevic, signed a cooperation agreement.

The project is fully financed by the Luksic family, which has for many years provided scholarships for Croatian students to acquire additional knowledge at Harvard University. Plenkovic thanked Davor Luksic, the CEO of the Excelsa business consulting firm, for that.

During the workshop, about 40 selected participants will acquire specific management skills and knowledge about digitisation, better functioning of public administration, public policy making, and budgeting.

Plenkovic said he was confident that this would help improve the quality of public service, in this particular case in the healthcare sector.