President Milanović Marks 30th Anniversary of Formation of the 57th “Marijan Celjak” Independent Battalion
The President of the Republic and Commander in Chief of the Croatian Armed Forces Zoran Milanović visited the city of Sisak, where he attended a formal session marking the 30th anniversary of the formation of the 57th “Marijan Celjak” Independent Battalion.
In his remarks at the formal session, President Milanović said that today Croatia is the only country in the entire EU where such celebrations are taking place. “No one else in Europe had that misfortune and fortune at the same time, to go through the things that Croatia and the people who defended it went through,” he said. It happened “not for the first time in our history, because we are different, which does not mean we are better or worse, but points to different circumstances and developments. Sometimes they understand us poorly, sometimes we facilitate that. We must always fight to explain ourselves and it has been so for centuries,” said the President.
President Milanović explained that Europe was defended in this region and that an abnormal life was led here for centuries, while others progressed. “Here, we struggled for bare survival. Here, Croatia, the Croatian people and the Croatian nation defended European civilization – that what has become the European Union, in which we live well, but from which we, like all small nations, must reap the most benefit,” said President Milanović. He added that Croats in the European Union must look out for their own interests and, if necessary, be self-serving. “I think the people who gave their lives would like that – no lip service, just ordinary people living the good life, which they were denied,” he said.
The President told local officials to work together and cooperate regardless of their political differences. “Because this county has suffered severely and it suffers every time, but every time it has difficulty raising its voice. “Insist on the things that are ordinary, pure human entitlements,” he said.
President Milanović concluded his remarks with these words: “It is up to us to remember our fallen heroes, Croatian heroes and warriors, because that’s what they are. Congratulations on your big and important day! Let the news be heard, for the people in Croatia do not know about it. You are too quiet, and between silence and yelling there is a wide range of voices. You can be important and proud of what you have given, not with hatred but with a bare desire to be the masters of your own destiny,” said the President, referring to the fact that the Barutana Barracks in Sisak were the first to be liberated in the Homeland War, which is not widely known.
On the 30th anniversary of its formation, the President of the Republic and Commander in Chief of the Croatian Armed Forces presented decorations to members of the 57th “Marijan Celjak” Independent Battalion. Janko Dužić, Mato Barić and Željko Pauković were posthumously decorated with the Order of the Croatian Trefoil for extraordinary services to the Republic of Croatia in a state of war and under special circumstances in peace. The Order of the Croatian Trefoil was also bestowed upon Miroslav Bobetko, Ivan Brlečić, Marin Jakopović, Asif Mujkić and Ante Živković. Stjepan Kolarec was presented with the Order of the Croatian Interlace for extraordinary contributions to the development and the reputation of the Republic of Croatia, as well as to the welfare of its citizens.
Prior to the formal session, which was held in the old Barutana Barracks, the President of the Republic laid a wreath and lit a candle in memory of the fallen Croatian defenders at the Central Cross in Viktorovac Cemetery. Chief of the General Staff of the Croatian Armed Forces Admiral Robert Hranj and Special Adviser to the President of the Republic for Homeland War Veterans Marijan Mareković were alongside President Milanović.
PHOTO: Office of the President of the Republic of Croatia / Tomislav Bušljeta