President Milanović attends the 311th Sinjska Alka, highlighting peace as the central message
“At its core, the Alka is a folk festival, a gathering of people around the Feast of the Assumption of Mary to celebrate a historic victory. In Croatian history, there have been both smaller and greater victories, but they all pale in comparison to the recent victories in our latest conflict, the Homeland War,” said the President of the Republic, Zoran Milanović, following the 311th Sinjska Alka held today in Sinj.
“However, the Alka remains as a competition, as a source of public joy, and as a gathering that is set to continue on the streets of Sinj. I have no political messages other than a shared one for all of us for the coming year, until the next Alka – and that is peace, the peace of cannons and rifles, good health for everyone, and the best possible financial success, which is the last and least important, yet still significant,” President Milanović added in his address following the conclusion of this year’s 311th Sinjska Alka.
As the patron of the event, President Milanović presented the winner, Tin Radanović, with a sabre and a gold ring featuring the Croatian coat of arms, congratulating him on his victory. “Winner, Alkar Radanović, congratulations on a brilliant run and an excellent result. I also congratulate all the other riders and lancers on an exceptional contest, the likes of which neither I nor most of us can remember.” Prior to the 311th Sinjska Alka, President Milanović attended the reception hosted by the Alka Duke in the Alka Halls, where the President of the Alka Knights Society, Stipe Jukić, presented him with a commemorative gift – a brass alka. At this year’s Alka ceremony, President Milanović was accompanied by the Adviser to the President for Human Rights and Civil Society Melita Mulić, Adviser to the President for Local and Regional Self-Government Relations Nikša Peronja, and Commissioner of the President for Sport Tomislav Paškvalin.
PHOTO: Office of the President of the Republic of Croatia / Marko Beljan