President Milanović Meets Representatives of Associations of Zagreb Reserve Brigades of the Croatian Army

The President of the Republic Zoran Milanović met today with the representatives of the associations of Zagreb reserve brigades of the Croatian Army on the occasion of the 35^th anniversary of the establishment of the Zagreb reserve brigades.

At the meeting, the representatives of the associations of the Zagreb brigades, led by the Associations Coordinator, retired Second Lieutenant Damir Pavlek, acquainted President Milanović with the plan to mark this important event. The 35th anniversary of the establishment of the Zagreb reserve brigades, which is organized together with the City of Zagreb, will be marked on 30 May with a formal event at the Vatroslav Lisinski Concert Hall.

Speaking about the role of Zagreb units in the Homeland War, Pavlek emphasized that around 52 thousand Zagreb defenders had at some point been a part of the Zagreb reserve brigades, and if members of the guards brigades were added to this, then it could be said that 70 thousand defenders from Zagreb had taken part in the Homeland War. “Our units participated on all battlefields. Zagreb made a great contribution to the Homeland War, both on the battlefield and through logistics,” said Pavlek, who considers that it has not been spoken enough about the role of defenders from Zagreb. For this reason, they consider the marking of the 35^th anniversary of the establishment of the Zagreb reserve brigades to be especially important.

Apart from the Associations Coordinator and retired Second Lieutenant Damir Pavlek, who is also the President of the Homeland War Veterans’ Association in Trešnjevka, the delegation composed of: retired Brigadier General Darko Rukavina, Presidium Member of the Association of Tigar 90/91 Rakitje; retired Major Branko Bartolec, the President of the Veterans’ Association of Zagreb Defence Command; retired Lieutenant Colonel Mladen Kužnik, Executive Board Member of the 99^th Brigade Veterans’ Association Pešćenica;  retired First Lieutenant Sergije Dražić, President of the 101^st Brigade Veterans’ Association ZNG/HV Susedgrad; retired First Lieutenant Dragutin Brebrić, President of the 102^nd Brigade Veterans’ Association Novi Zagreb; retired Second Lieutenant Željko Očić, Vice President of the 144^th Brigade Veterans’ Association Sesvete; retired First Lieutenant Ladislav Plantić, President of the 145^th Brigade Veterans’ Association Dubrava; retired Second Lieutenant Milan Zanoški, Secretary General of the 148^th Brigade Veterans’ Association Trnje; and retired First Lieutenant Željko Stein, President of the 150^th Brigade Veterans’ Association Črnomerec.

President Milanović was accompanied by his Adviser for Homeland War Veterans Marijan Mareković.

PHOTO: Office of the President of the Republic of Croatia / Filip Glas