Parliament Speaker Gordan Jandrokovic said on Thursday that it was logical that Slovenia would represent Croatia at the summit of the European Council in Brussels, adding that he did not know why President Milanovic had refused that role.

“I am glad that the Prime Minister asked the President to go to Brussels instead of him and attend the meeting of the European Council regardless of the disputes that have occurred over the past few weeks. It is essential that when important matters are at stake there is dialogue and cooperation between the two key persons in the state,” said Jandrokovic after laying a wreath at the grave of Croatia’s first president Franjo Tudjman on the 21st anniversary of his death.

He said he did not know why President Zoran Milanovic had declined the offer and would not speculate about it. “It is a pity that President Milanovic won’t be in Brussels. It would be good to hear his reasons why,” said Jandrokovic.

Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic proposed that Milanovic replace him at the summit of the European Council in Brussels to discuss an aid package for member states affected by the coronavirus pandemic. Plenkovic cannot attend as he is still recovering from COVID-19. Milanovic then suggested that Slovenia represent Croatia based on previous cases of good neighbourly cooperation in such situations.

Jandrokovic said that this was a logical move because Slovenia is a neighbouring country that understands Croatia’s position very well and because of the good relations between the two countries’ prime ministers.

“Naturally it would be better to have our own representative at meetings like that, but at the same time I hope and believe that Croatia has articulated its views very well and that they are well known and if any further consultations are required the phone line between the prime ministers of Slovenia and Croatia will be active. I am not concerned that we might lose something because our representative won’t be there,” concluded Jandrokovic.