In a World Full of Challenges We Must Be where Decisions Are Made and Defend Croatian Interests
The President of the Republic and Commander in Chief of the Croatian Armed Forces Zoran Milanović attended the 27th generation of voluntary military service recruits on Saturday, 7 March 2020 at St. Trinity Square in Požega. Three hundred and twenty-seven recruits, including 57 women, took the oath. This is the first time in 28 years that the oath taking ceremony was held in the square in Požega instead of the barracks.
Congratulating the recruits for choosing the military calling and on taking the oath, President Milanović said: “You have chosen an occupation that very few people choose in this time of comfort and ease, when every wish and ambition has to be fulfilled as soon as possible. I thank you for this and you have my respect. The life and calling of a soldier is probably the toughest. In today’s world of numerous challenges, we must be benevolent and never naive and gullible. We must be present where decisions are made, defend Croatian interests, Croatian independence and sovereignty even far from Croatia’s borders, but first of all in the Homeland. Your place is here, and as President of the Republic, I will be committed to this in accordance with the Constitution.
The President underlined that the State has to ensure quality equipment for the soldiers because “a modern army without quality equipment risk what is most precious, people”.
In addition to the large number of citizens, families and friends of the recruits, the oath taking ceremony of this year’s generation of recruits was also attended by the Prime Minister’s envoy the Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Damir Krstičević, the Chief of the General Staff of the Croatian Armed Forces Vice Admiral Robert Hranj, representatives of Požega-Slavonia County and of the cities of Požega, Kutjevo and Pleternica as well as representatives of Association of Homeland War Defenders.
