President Milanović Decorates Defenders and Presents Honorary Brigadier General Ranks
“This is a debt of honour to the people who have either not been decorated to date or have not been honoured in a way that I consider adequate. My deep gratitude for everything you have given to the Homeland,” the President of the Republic and Commander in Chief of the Croatian Armed Forces Zoran Milanović said at a ceremony at which decorations were awarded and honorary brigadier general ranks were presented to Croatian defenders from the Homeland War.
In his address at the ceremony in the Office of the President, the Croatian President reminded that in the beginning of the Homeland War, only a small group of the right kind of people defended Croatia. “Later, Croatia was liberated by a larger group of people; however, they were led by the very people who started to defend it. Everything started with them and without them things would not have ended as they did,” added President Milanović, expressing his deep gratitude to those who were decorated today, and to those who today became honorary brigadier generals.
The President of the Republic and Commander in Chief of the Croatian Armed Forces Zoran Milanović presented honorary brigadier general ranks of the Croatian Army to Croatian defenders from the Homeland War. Jozo Jović, Neđo Perić, Rozarijo Rozga, Zvonko Sesar, Petar Bajan, Željko Barišić (posthumously), Miljenko Lasić (posthumously), and Rudolf Perešin (posthumously) were awarded the rank of Honorary Brigadier General of the Croatian Army for extraordinary merits in the Homeland War.
All honorary brigadier generals held command and staff positions in the Croatian Army during the Homeland War and were decorated with the highest honours of the Republic of Croatia, which are awarded for military merits and valour in the Homeland War.
Furthermore, the President of the Republic and Commander in Chief of the Croatian Armed Forces decorated Croatian defenders from the Homeland War. For bravery and heroism they have displayed in the Homeland War, Ladislav Kočiš, Marjan Biškić, and Srećko Telar were decorated with the Order of Duke Domagoj with Ribbon. For a deed of valour in the Homeland War, Mirko Mandalinić, Ivica Mikulić, and Žarko Pavlović were awarded the Order of Nikola Šubić Zrinski. For the successful command of units of the Croatian Armed Forces, and for extraordinary services in their organization, Tihomir Budanko and Ilija Cota were awarded the Order of Ban Jelačić.
For extraordinary services to the Republic of Croatia in a state of war, the Order of the Croatian Trefoil was awarded to: Stjepan Kralj, Miro Raguž, Mario Kos, Ivica Mage, Marijan Mileta, David Đekemati, Željko Pavičić (posthumously), Željko Marević (posthumously), Dragutin Bukovec (posthumously), Vladimir Zoretić, Josip Podnar, Dražen Zelenka, Jakov Stanušić, Luka Šunjić, Hari Damjanović, Tomislav Grandov, Jelena Sutlović, Igor Šokota, Đani Toman, and Ante Mihić.
For extraordinary contributions to the development and standing of the Republic of Croatia, as well as to the welfare of its citizens, the Order of the Croatian Interlace was bestowed upon: Ivan Djekemati, Deže Kelemen, Zoran Albert, Stjepan Deže, Robert Ćurčija, Drago Drlja, Jadranka Mandić, Ivica Hećimović, Josip Grčević, Ivica Matić, Zvonimir Krnić, Željko Katuša, Slavko Jakuš, Josip Adžić, Milivoj Butigan, Davor Šolić, Tonći Smoje (posthumously), Kristijan Borić, Emil Jurenić, Dubravko Šonjić, Drago Lijić, Igor Nosil, Nediljko Dadić, Zoran Čulić, Šimun Lučić (posthumously), Marija Lučić, Jadran Topić, and Petar Zelenika.
Damir Kovačević, Renato Habuš and Kristijan Parlov were presented with the Homeland War Memorial Medal for their participation in the Homeland War.
Honorary Brigadier General Marijan Biškić spoke on behalf of the decorated and promoted Homeland War defenders. He pointed out that the recipients and their families are extremely proud of the decorations and promotions they received, but at the same time disappointed with the overall atmosphere in society.
“All of us present here have come to the institution of the President of the Republic of Croatia, which we have, as defenders, always highly valued and respected. We are proud to have come to the presentation of awards and decisions on promotions that we have earned through our contribution in the struggle of the Croatian people for the freedom and independence of the Republic of Croatia,” said Honorary Brigadier General Marijan Biškić.
He thanked President Milanović for equally appreciating the contribution of both Croatian military forces from the Homeland War – the Croatian Army and the Croatian Defence Council – and for not forgetting the fallen and deceased defenders and their deeds. “The numbers of dead, missing and deceased defenders, as well as those who committed suicide, oblige all authorities in Croatia and call for a serious approach. They should be constantly reiterated so that the price paid for the freedom that we all enjoy today is not forgotten, nor the consequences that the veterans and their families are suffering in light of the Homeland War,” Honorary Brigadier General Marijan Biškić said at the ceremony.
In addition to President Milanović, the ceremony was attended by the Special Adviser to the President of the Republic for Homeland War Veterans Marijan Mareković, Adviser to the President of the Republic for Defense Ivica Olujić, Adviser to the President of the Republic for National Security Dragan Lozančić, Adviser to the President of the Republic for Foreign and European Policy Neven Pelicarić, Adviser to the President of the Republic for Education Jadranka Žarković, Secretary General of the Office of the President of the Republic Dinko Suton, and Aide-de-Camp to the President of the Republic Colonel Vlado Čulina.
PHOTO: Office of the President of the Republic of Croatia / Filip Glas, Marko Beljan