President Milanović in Varaždin: “Pumas” Brigade is among the most powerful in Croatia and its contribution in the war was enormous

Ahead of the 29^th anniversary of the formation of the 7^th Guards Brigade “Pumas” and the Day of the 2^nd Mechanized Battalion “Pumas,” the President of the Republic and Commander in Chief of the Croatian Armed Forces Zoran Milanović paid a visit to the 7^th Guards Brigade “Pumas” Barracks in Varaždin, where he met with the veterans of the 7^th Guards Brigade “Pumas,” the commander of the Guards Armoured Mechanized Brigade and representatives of the City of Varaždin and Varaždin County.

After the meeting, President Milanović said: “The 7^th Guards Brigade “Pumas” is among the most powerful Croatian brigades and its contribution in the war was enormous. Yet another anniversary, time flies. People are ageing, but they’re getting along. They are the real thing.” 

The following persons attended the meeting with President Milanović: Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Croatian Armed Forces Lieutenant General Siniša Jurković; Commander of the Croatian Army Lieutenant General Boris Šerić; Commander of the Guards Armoured Mechanized Brigade Brigadier General Mijo Validžić; Deputy Varaždin County Prefect Silvija Zagorac; Mayor of Varaždin Neven Bosilj; President of the Varaždin City Council Zdravka Grđan; President of the 7^th Guards Brigade “Pumas” Veterans’ Association Robert Puja; Association members Željko Dvekar, Zdravko Jakop, Marijan Kretić, Darko Duhović, Dejan Novosel, Draženko Mikac and Ljubomir Volarić; Deputy Commander of the Guards Armoured Mechanized Brigade Colonel Valentin Skroza; Commander of the 2^nd Armoured Mechanized Battalion “Pumas” Major Krunoslav Slavinec; NCO of the Guards Armoured Mechanized Brigade Officer Branko Ramčić; NCO of the 2^nd Armoured Mechanized Battalion “Pumas” Officer Dalibor Škvarić.

During his visit to the barracks, President Milanović laid a wreath and lit a candle in St. George’s Chapel in memory of the fallen Homeland War defenders. Special Adviser to the President of the Republic for Homeland War Veterans Marijan Mareković, Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Croatian Armed Forces Lieutenant General Siniša Jurković, Commander of the Croatian Army Lieutenant General Boris Šerić and Commander of the Guards Armoured Mechanized Brigade Brigadier General Mijo Validžić were at the wreath-laying alongside President Milanović.

PHOTO: Office of the President of the Republic of Croatia / Tomislav Bušljeta