President Milanović Attends 30th Anniversary Ceremony of Opening of Kijevo Police Station
The President of the Republic Zoran Milanović attended the 30th anniversary ceremony of the opening of the Kijevo Police Station, and laid a wreath at the central cross in front of St. Michael’s Church.
In his address President Milanović noted that today’s state is structured, and whatever it’s like, it’s better than it ever was. “Thirty years ago it was hard to imagine the few courageous people who had, to say the least, courage. Both courage and foolishness, a heart and hope to venture into something that seemed impossible to most people”, President Milanović stated, adding that this is where Ratko Mladić began his career and his bloody path. “He is one of the biggest criminals of the last century, not by the number of people who lost their lives because of his actions, but because of the way he did it”, the President said.
President Milanović also referred to the year 1995 underlining that Croatia was liberated then thanks to the courage and intelligence, methodical ways and persistence of the Croatian army and its commanders. “For months up here on Dinara Mountain, they devised a plan to liberate this region, all of Croatia. They did it so as to avoid as much as possible a large number of victims. And a large number of victims was avoided, both our own and the enemy’s. This fact is not given much significance in Croatia, and even less outside Croatia”, the President remarked.
The facts are being twisted. One should always admit one’s mistakes not only in war, not only in the country, but also in the family, in a relationship, in friendship and in love, but also be aware of who one is, what one is and where one belongs, what makes one great and what makes one an ordinary person. My heart is full on account of those who are no longer with us”, President Milanović concluded.
The Police Station in Kijevo was formed on 28 April 1991, and represents the first organized symbol of resistance of the Croatian population to the pressure and persecutions of the municipal authorities of the time, who had joined forces with the Yugoslav National Army.
Also addressing the gathering in addition to President Milanović was the president of the Association of Veterans and Volunteers of the Homeland War Marinko Čavka and the Head of the Municipality of Kijevo Lidija Slavić.
In attendance at the 30th anniversary ceremony of the opening of the Kijevo Police Station with President Milanović were the Chief of the General Staff of the Croatian Armed Forces Admiral Robert Hranj, the Head of the Cabinet of the President Bartol Šimunić, the Adviser to the President for Defense and National Security Dragan Lozančić and the Special Adviser of the President for Homeland War Veterans Marijan Mareković.
PHOTO: Office of the President of the Republic of Croatia / Tomislav Bušljeta