President of the Republic Promotes Cadets at Croatian Defence Academy
The President of the Republic and Commander in Chief of the Croatian Armed Forces Zoran Milanović participated in the rank award ceremony at the “Dr. Franjo Tuđman” Defence Academy. Thirty-nine 13th and 14th generation cadets of the Military Engineering and Military Leadership and Management graduate and undergraduate university study programmes were promoted to the rank of second lieutenant. The cadets also received officer’s daggers and certificates on their admission to active-duty service, as well as their assignments to Croatian Army units.
“I apologize for being ten minutes late. I was late because I was with the people representing those who went missing and were imprisoned in the Homeland War thirty years ago, and who have not yet been found. They were mostly young men who disappeared from their doorsteps in Tenja, Ernestinovo… We are still searching for them and we still do not have accurate data, but we do have a general idea of where they could be,” President Milanović said in his address, emphasizing that the perseverance which a country shows for its people is in some way the formula for the soldiers’ survival.
Recalling that “knowledge is power,” President Milanović pointed out that know-how, money and technology have never before played a greater role in wars. “Today, that makes the difference between surviving and vanishing. One who has something, who invests, is rich and ultimately has heart and a healthy mind, wins out.” The President added that this is a difficult course of study and that this job – a calling, above all – is not for everyone.
“Both NATO and the European Union are nice things that our country, our nation is experiencing on its historical and future path. But what remains constant is us, right here on our land, for which your friends, colleagues and comrades fought with a very small chance of succeeding. These are indescribably brave people who were neither curious nor adventurous, but were simply forced to live such a life. You are professional soldiers and that is a serious and fateful choice,” the President told the cadets.
“I will do everything as the Croatian President, in cooperation with the Government, the minister and the Chief of the General Staff to make room for the ‘best of the best’ at the top, and for the same rules and conditions to apply equally to everyone who seeks to advance towards the top. I don’t want you to spend your career and use your intelligence and experience in a real war; I don’t want you to use it where Croatia has no interest in being, we will evaluate where that is. We will not expose your lives and your families to danger without definite need, although one need stands above all others, and that is protecting Croatia. As Commander in Chief, I am accountable for that in accordance with the Croatian Constitution – for the independence, integrity and defence of the Republic of Croatia. I take this job seriously and I will perform it with faith and heart,” the President of the Republic and Commander in Chief of the Croatian Armed Forces concluded.
PHOTO: Office of the President of the Republic of Croatia / Filip Glas