(Photo: Office of President of Croatia / Marko Beljan)
Croatian President Zoran Milanović addressed the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York on Wednesday, underlining Croatia’s commitment to peace, multilateralism and sustainable development, while also warning of the urgent challenges facing the international community.
Reflecting on Croatia’s own experience of independence and post-war recovery, Milanović emphasised the role the United Nations played in securing sovereignty and territorial integrity, calling it a “safe harbour” during the country’s turbulent early years.
Call for peace and humanitarian action
The President noted that armed conflicts are more numerous today than at any time since the Second World War, straining humanitarian systems and eroding trust in global institutions.
He expressed hope for an end to the suffering in Ukraine, welcomed recent diplomatic efforts, and urged inclusive dialogue for peace. Turning to Gaza, he described the humanitarian toll as “more than a war – it is a massacre”, calling for an immediate cessation of violence, secure humanitarian access, and the release of hostages.
Milanović also highlighted the dire situation in Sudan, one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises. He stressed that UN peace missions must be realistic, flexible and focused on long-term stability.
“Peace cannot be imposed – it must be built. And to be sustainable, it must rest on democracy, legitimate governance and full respect for human rights,” he said.
Regional stability and Bosnia and Herzegovina
Addressing South-East Europe, Milanović reiterated Croatia’s commitment to good neighbourly relations and regional stability.
He underlined the importance of respecting Bosnia and Herzegovina’s constitutional order and the equality of its three constituent peoples. Ensuring that all have the right to elect legitimate representatives, he said, is a “fundamental precondition for lasting stability and progress”.
(Photo: Office of President of Croatia / Marko Beljan)
Humanitarian leadership and legacy of war
Drawing on Croatia’s own post-war experience, Milanović said that families of 1,744 missing persons from the Homeland War are still searching for answers. As co-chair of the Global Alliance for the Missing, Croatia is sharing its model of inter-agency cooperation to help other countries.
He also noted Croatia’s leading role in the fight against landmines, including the recent adoption of a Human Rights Council resolution on the issue. Additionally, Croatia spearheaded the UN resolution proclaiming 27 June as the International Day of Deafblindness, with the support of 99 member states.
Commitment to sustainable development and climate action
The President reaffirmed Croatia’s dedication to the UN’s 2030 Agenda, stressing that sustainable development is embedded in national planning. He welcomed progress made at COP28 on phasing out fossil fuels, while calling for greater ambition and credible climate financing at the upcoming COP29 and COP30 summits.
He also voiced support for the “One Health” approach, linking human, animal and environmental wellbeing, and praised the new Pandemic Agreement adopted at the World Health Assembly earlier this year.
As a Mediterranean country, Milanović stressed Croatia’s commitment to ocean protection, urging swift ratification of the BBNJ agreement.
Global security, new technologies and UN reform
Milanović addressed the transformative impact of emerging technologies such as drones, AI, cyber capabilities and robotics, noting their potential both to destabilise and to strengthen resilience.
“The way we choose to direct these tools will determine not only the future of defence but also the future of peace,” he said, calling for urgent international rules and safeguards.
(Photo: Office of President of Croatia / Marko Beljan)
On the future of the United Nations itself, Milanović insisted that reform is an “existential necessity”. He welcomed the Secretary-General’s UN80 initiative, called for a more representative and effective Security Council, and underlined the importance of financial stability.
“UN does not exist for itself, but to serve humanity – to protect dignity, freedom and peace,” he concluded. “The world does not lack strategies or ideas. What it lacks is political courage. Let us find that courage together.”