President Milanović: All our important decisions should be made out of concern for our own interests, since our strategic partners have only concern for their own interests as well
“We are a NATO member, they are our allies with whom we have certain agreements and certain vows that could be fulfilled in a critical situation. We should do everything we can to ensure that they never come true and that there is never a need for them. But we can see how strategic allies behave from our example. Our strategic partner sold us 12 airplanes, and then sold the same to our neighbours – who are not NATO members. They didn’t ask us when they did it. Then we have to upgrade these systems, and that will cost even more. Is this the behaviour of an ally? Perhaps yes, but the fact is that the French Republic was concerned only about its own interests. We must remember this and think about it – only about its own interests, we weren’t even asked for our opinion”, the President of the Republic and Commander-in-Chief of the Croatian Armed Forces Zoran Milanović stated today at the ceremony marking the 34th anniversary of the Croatian Air Force at the “Lieutenant Colonel Marko Živković” barracks in Velika Gorica.
Speaking on the topic, the President added that “this is not criticism of anyone, but simply an encouragement to think about how states act, what their motives are and what they are guided by when making decisions”. Emphasizing that “all our doctrine, thinking and all our important decisions should stem from concern for our own interests”, the President said that concern for our own interests does not exclude loyalty and decency towards partners. “The strategy cannot be the same for a country of four million inhabitants and a country of 65 million, a country that manufactures and a country that buys, a country that pays off a loan and a country that gives it. These are not the same, they are not equal roles at all”, the President Milanović believes.
“I wish you much luck and skill in managing the systems that are coming to Croatia and that have already arrived. They are new, complex, demanding, there is a lot of knowledge and technology. And they serve exclusively and primarily to defend the Croatian sky, the Croatian land and Croatia as a whole. This is the primary task according to the Croatian Constitution, but also according to common sense and a healthy heart, the primary task of the Croatian Army and the Croatian Air Force”, President Milanović told the members of the Croatian Air Force.
He also reccalled the four Croatian airmen who perished in Otok in December 1991, and who he said were the starting point of today’s Croatian Air Force. “They lost their lives in their early years as top pilots. The story of these four heroes of the Homeland War is special and unique, it represents the starting point of your growth and progress from the point where there was nothing from strategic partners – all on your own, all with your own resources. In honour and glory to them, and for us all to think and orient ourselves – happy Croatian Air Force Day and may the skies be clear for you“, the President concluded.
On the occasion of Croatian Air Force Day, on the basis of his constitutional and legal powers, the President of the Republic issued a Decision on promotions and commendations.
Promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel are: Major Petar Mutabdžija and Major Amir Vitez, Major Željko Kocijan, Major Antonio Knez, Major Krunoslav Maček, Major Mario Babić, Major Maja Ceci and Major Marija Medur Marcelić. Promoted to the rank of Major are: Captain Mate Štrkalj, Captain Dražen Pekar, Captain Denis Živaljić, Captain Ivan Dukić, Captain Daniel Čičmir, Captain Marko Perković, Captain Melita Boltužić, Captain Andreja Božić, Captain Danijel Lada, Captain Zdravko Marojević, Captain Zoran Kovačević, Captain Denis Marković and Captain Damir Švorinić.
For achieving above-average results in carrying out assigned tasks, a commendation from the Commander-in-Chief is presented to Lieutenant Colonel Roko Gospić.
Addressing the Croatian airmen besides President Milanović were the Commander of the Croatian Air Force, Colonel Krešimir Ražov, and the Chief of the General Staff of the Croatian Armed Forces, Lieutenant-General Tihomir Kundid.
Alongside the President of the Republic were the Head of the Cabinet of the President, Bartol Šimunić, the Adviser to the President for Defense, Ivica Olujić, the Adviser to the President for Homeland War Veterans, Marijan Mareković, and the Aide-de-camp to the President Colonel Vlado Čulina.
PHOTO: Office of the President of the Republic of Croatia / Ana Marija Katić