President Milanović at Ceremony Marking Formation of “Vukovi” Guards Brigade: your duty is to defend the Homeland, the Army must have better conditions

The President of the Republic and Commander in Chief of the Croatian Armed Forces Zoran Milanović attended in the “9^th Guards Brigade Vukovi (Wolves)” barracks in Gospić a ceremony marking the 29^th anniversary of the formation of the “Vukovi” 9^th Guards Brigade and of the “Vukovi” Motorized Battalion.

President Milanović started his address at the ceremony by recalling the defence of Croatia thirty years ago saying that it was defended by a small number of good people who were our best and bravest. “It’s not by accident that they’re called defenders, they did defend Croatia. At the time it was only defence which was questionable as there were no arms. That is the Croatian truth, and what is happening today and what has been going on these past weeks and months throughout Croatia is a reminder and a struggle against oblivion – we’re fighting against that. We remember, we recall and we have reason to be proud. Our path and our struggle led by you were rightful, there were ups and some downs here and there which we are willing to face. In this lies your force, and the force of Croatia”, noted President Milanović.

Speaking about what Croatia is like today, the President said that it is modern and good. “The state of affairs isn’t bad, but should be better. The army must have better conditions and when I say this, I am saying what the Croatian Government must give and what it should ensure. I mean good technical and material conditions, and good and quality maintenance of what we have. That’s not a little. We don’t have to exaggerate and be too ambitious, but what we do have we have to preserve and maintain like good hosts”, President Milanović stated.

He told the members of the “Vukovi” brigade that their duty is to defend the homeland. “We are a member of NATO, and I have witnessed this at the outset of my career being one of those who led Croatia into NATO, believing it good for Croatia. I feel the same today, but times are changing. It’s not like it was twenty years ago. It’s good that we were in Afghanistan and that we retreated on time, because that’s not the homeland, we learned something over there. It’s good too that we’re in Kosovo, but that’s not the homeland. It’s good, but very cautious, smart and thoughtful as a NATO member to be in solidarity in Poland, on the Russian border, but history has taught us that Croats have no business being in Russia. Their place is in the homeland”, noted the President. He concluded his address by reading the inscription on the Memorial to the fallen, missing and deceased members of the “Vukovi” 9^th Guards Brigade: “Glory to the Vukovi (Wolves), strong as the land that bore them, eternal as the land that covers them. Long live Croatia!”

Also speaking at the ceremony marking the 29^th anniversary of the formation of the “Vukovi” 9^th Guards Brigade and of the “Vukovi” Motorized Battalion besides President Milanović was the vice-president of the Association of War Veterans of the “Vukovi” 9^th Guards Brigade Milan Franić, envoy of the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Croatian Defenders Tomo Medved, and envoy of the Speaker of the Croatian Parliament and Lika-Senj County Prefect Ernest Petry.

Prior to the ceremony and the presentation of berets to members of the “Vukovi” Motorized Battalion, President Milanović laid a wreath and lit a candle in front of the Memorial to the fallen, missing and deceased members of the “Vukovi” 9^th Guards Brigade. Alongside President Milanović at the wreath-laying ceremony were the Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Croatian Armed Forces Lieutenant General Siniša Jurković, Commander of the Croatian Army Lieutenant General Boris Šerić, Adviser to the President of the Republic for Defence and National Security Dragan Lozančić, Special Adviser to the President of the Republic for Homeland War Veterans Marijan Mareković, Deputy Commander of the Croatian Defence Academy Dr. Franjo Tuđman Brigadier General Blaž Beretin, Commander of the Guards Mechanized Brigade Brigadier General Dražen Ressler, and Commander of the Motorized Battalion “Vukovi” Major Antonijo Tokić.

PHOTO: Office of the President of the Republic of Croatia / Dario Andrišek