President in Vinkovci Sends Message to Neighbours: We Must Talk about Missing Persons, We Can’t Get Past this Issue
The President of the Republic and Commander in Chief of the Croatian Armed Forces Zoran Milanović attended the 30th anniversary ceremony of the forming of the 3rd Guards Brigade “Kune” in Vinkovci.
The ceremony of the 30th anniversary of the forming of the 3rd Guards Brigade “Kune” began at the central cross in the Municipal Cemetery in Vinkovci where President Milanović laid a wreath and lit a candle in memory of the fallen Croatian defenders. Accompanying the President of the Republic at the wreath-laying ceremony were the Chief of the General Staff of the Croatian Armed Forces Admiral Robert Hranj, the Adviser to the President of the Republic for Defense and National Security Dragan Lozančić and the Special Adviser to the President of the Republic for Homeland War Veterans Marijan Mareković.
In his address at the main ceremony of the 30th anniversary of the forming of the 3rd Guards Brigade “Kune”, President Milanović stated that Croatia is the only nation in the European Union that participated in a war at the end of the last century. “In 1991 a small number of good people courageously decided, some even say foolishly, to go and defend Croatia. Croatia was attacked and its people were being killed”, he added.
President Milanović referred to the wars that we are waging today, namely the departure of young people from Croatia. “I hope that those of you who are alive are satisfied with how Croatia looks today. That it exists, but also that you’re ambitious enough to want things to be better, much better. People are leaving, no government can be blamed for this. They’re leaving because they have somewhere to go. This is both an opportunity and a problem, and if this issue is not managed properly, nations, especially small ones, like ours, old and glorious, are in jeopardy”, the President noted.
He added that he doesn’t mean we’re victims, but that we must seriously deal with the situation. “We must seriously make use of every euro that’s available. This relation with the European Union is a fight for every euro because we staked our freedom, democracy and sovereignty so that we can get something, which is measured in terms of money, and people are leaving because of money. Those are the wars we are waging today and those wars require other types of generals. Those are wars in which there is no shooting or killing, in which the victims and the burden are seemingly less significant, but the stake is equally as big”, President Milanović underlined.
“Croatia is a free country, we’re a free nation”, the President said, adding that we’re a nation that loves and respects our own, but respects others as well. “It respects the Croatian minorities on a level of understanding, regard and awareness that only a common path and dialogue lead us further”, he said referring to our relations with our neighbours, and underlined that we will have to discuss certain issues with them. “Here I mean the missing Croatian persons, especially in this area. This isn’t hate, this isn’t hate speech, this is simply the language of elementary pride and self-awareness that we simply can’t get past it”, President Milanović concluded his address.
Extending his congratulations to the members of the 3rd Guards Brigade “Kune” on their anniversary, the President of the Republic thanked each one of them and also extended special gratitude to the families of the defenders who are no longer with us, while calling for unity and solidarity as much as possible.
On the 30th anniversary of the formation of the 3rd Guards Brigade “Kune”, the President of the Republic decorated former members of the brigade.
Retired Lieutenant General Mladen Kruljac was presented with the Grand Order of King Petar Krešimir IV with Sash and Star for extraordinary contributions to the creation of war strategy and military doctrine, for services in the establishment of the Armed Forces and for outstanding successes in the leadership and command of units of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Croatia.
Krešimir Šipoš was presented with the Order of Duke Domagoj with Ribbon for bravery and heroism displayed in the Homeland War. Siniša Glavaš was decorated with the Order of Nikola Šubić Zrinski for a deed of valour in the Homeland War. Damir Dujić was presented with the Order of Ban Jelačić for extraordinary successful command of units of the Croatian Armed Forces and for extraordinary military services in their organization. Đuro Kovačević and Mario Jahić were awarded with the Order of the Croatian Cross for participating and being seriously wounded in the Homeland War.
Zvonko Aničić, Anto Arelić, Zoran Beligoj, Zoran Bilačić, Marijan Crnac, Ivan Čabraja, Josip Dubac, Ivan Filipović, Franjo Golubić, Mario Grubić, Vinko Hančić, Karlo Jadanić, Antun Katić, Zoran Magdić, Drago Majić, Mirko Margeta, Mijo Mitrović, Mario Nađ, Zoran Odobašić, Slobodan Oreč, Dražen Pišonić, Ivan Romić, Ernest Stjepić, Mirko Šebelić, Vinko Štimac and Valentin Tomšić were decorated with the Order of the Croatian Trefoil for extraordinary services to the Republic of Croatia in a state of war and under special circumstances in peace.
Petar Bubalo, Željko Ivanišević, Luka Krijan, Vlado Krpan, Ljubomir Marjanović, Gordana Pujez, Marijo Sosnik, Antun Špehar and Mato Opačak were decorated with the Order of the Croatian Interlace for extraordinary contributions to the development and the reputation of the Republic of Croatia, as well as to the welfare of its citizens.
On the 30th anniversary of the formation of the 3rd Guards Brigade “Kune”, the President of the Republic and Commander in Chief of the Croatian Armed Forces was presented with a Plaque for supporting the work of the Association of Veterans of the Brigade.
PHOTO: Office of the President of the Republic of Croatia / Marko Beljan