President Milanović Tells Special Units: Work on yourself and develop professionally, your task is above all to defend Croatia
The President of the Republic and Commander in Chief of the Croatian Armed Forces Zoran Milanović attended a ceremony marking the 30th anniversary of the establishment of the Croatian Army’s special units and celebrating Special Forces Command Day in the “Staff Brigadier Ante Šaškor” Barracks in the town of Delnice.
Awards and commendations were presented at the ceremony to members of the Special Forces Command. Congratulating them on the anniversary, President Milanović expressed deep respect for the job they chose, emphasizing that it is more than work, that it is a way of life and a calling. “Eternal glory and gratitude to your comrades who died for Croatia at a time when Croatia was defended by a few good people. Everything in the end, in every line of work, especially in war where people die, comes down to a few good people. To you, the few good, but the right people, I wish all the best and congratulate you on the anniversary of your glorious and impeccable journey – (I wish) for you to continue to be here, to work on yourself, to develop professionally and for Croatia to be a safe, stable and beautiful country to live in,” said the President.
In his address, he pointed out that the members of the Special Forces Command look exactly as children would imagine soldiers: “Physically ready, looking a bit dangerous, resolute – that is what a soldier looks like. Your unit and your fellow soldiers have made an enormous contribution to the creation and defense of Croatia,” President Milanović underscored.
He told them that their task was above all to defend Croatia. “Participating in the missions of international organizations, of NATO, is a debt and obligation of our country based on membership in these organizations. We will be fair and honest here as well, but above all we will look after our interests and make sure that we use and engage our valuable but limited number of people where, first and foremost, our interest is,” said the Croatian President, emphasizing that we will define that interest through the democratic process, led by democratically elected Croatian political leaders who are accountable to Croatian citizens.
In the remainder of the ceremony program, members of the Special Forces Command performed a drill demonstrating their skills, after which President Milanović visited the Memorial Room and attended the screening of a film and the presentation of a brochure being issued on the 30th anniversary of the special units.
On the 30th anniversary of the establishment of the Croatian Army’s special units and Special Forces Command Day, the President of the Republic and Commander in Chief of the Croatian Armed Forces laid a wreath and lit a candle in memory of the fallen members of the Croatian Army’s special units at the cross in front of the Memorial Room. The following individuals accompanied President Milanović at the wreath laying: Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Croatian Armed Forces Lieutenant General Siniša Jurković; Adviser to the President of the Republic for Defense and National Security Dragan Lozančić; Commander of the Special Forces Command Brigadier General Perica Turalija; Former Commander of the Special Operations Battalion and Special Forces Command Colonel Dražen Ressler; Head of the Military Office in the Cabinet for Defense and National Security Colonel Ivica Kranjčević; Aide-de-camp to the President of the Republic Colonel Vlado Čulina; Head of the Office of the Commander of the Special Forces Command Major Saša Vučić; First NCO of the Croatian Armed Forces Sergeant Major Dražen Klanjec; First NCO of the Special Forces Command Sergeant Major Alen Janeš.
PHOTO: Office of the President of the Republic of Croatia / Marko Beljan