President Milanović Decorates Members of “Tigers” and Tells Them: To have your own state is the greatest thing possible; no integration can be on top of that
“For a people, for a political group of people to have their own state is the greatest thing possible. Nothing can surpass that. No integration, no international organisation cannot and will not be on top of that, with all due respect and loyalty to these organisations. Croatia tops all of that,” said the President of the Republic and Commander in Chief of the Croatian Armed Forces Zoran Milanović to the members of the 1st Guards Brigade “Tigers” War Veterans’ Association who were presented with decorations.
The President of the Republic decorated the “Tigers” ahead of the anniversary of establishment of the 1st Guards Brigade “Tigers” and 1st Mechanized Battalion “Tigers,” which will be marked on 5 November. “Today, right here in front of me, to my great honour and pleasure, stand the people who finished their wartime path many years ago, yet are only receiving recognition and decoration for it today,” said President Milanović who, as he stated, accuses no one for the fact that many members of the “Tigers” were not decorated earlier. Furthermore, the President believes that this should be rectified. Therefore, “together with my associates, we are trying to make the thing right, and I hope we will have enough time to put things into order.”
Congratulating the Croatian defenders for “overdue and well-deserved decorations for courage, heroism, and participation in the war that ended a long time ago – honours which have not been awarded until today,” President Milanović concluded: “I express my immense gratitude and respect for all the things you gave for Croatia in your youth, because without it there would be no Croatia. Thanks to the Croatian fighters, defenders, and foremost Croatian brigades’ members, we have a sate which is free, independent, young and ours.”
Pursuant to the Constitution of the Republic of Croatia and the Act on Decorations and Awards of the Republic of Croatia, and upon the proposal of the State Commission for Decorations and Awards of the Republic of Croatia, the President of the Republic of Croatia has issued decisions conferring decorations upon Croatian defenders, former members of the 1st Guards Brigade “Tigers.”
The Order of Nikola Šubić Zrinski, awarded for acts of heroism during the Homeland War, was conferred upon Stanko Šincek, Mladen Fulir (posthumously), Vencel Čuljak, Nikola Bogojević, Darko Cimaš (posthumously), Zoran Fotović, and Josip Dorotić. The Order of Ban Jelačić, awarded for exceptionally successful command of units of the Croatian Armed Forces and distinguished service in their organization, was conferred upon Andrija Kolobarić.
The Order of the Croatian Cross, awarded for sustaining severe wounds during the Homeland War, was conferred upon Ivica Kopecki, Željko Jakovljević, Zvonko Kelava, Željko Vukić, Željko Dobranić, Željko Majetić, Stipe Ercegovac, Zoran Hržan, and Božidar Ljubek.
The Order of the Croatian Trefoil, awarded for exceptional service to the Republic of Croatia rendered during wartime, was conferred upon Darijo Strehovac, Damir Trupković, Ivon Bebić, Tamara Puhmajer, Josip Vujnović, Danijel Vuković, Josip Dragutin Koštić, Robert Vrkić, Branko Rimac, Damir Horvat, Drago Prša, Franjo Kemec, Darko Fileš, Ivan Šafarić, Mario Tomić, Josip Hunjet, Vlado Ličanin, and Željko Hajtok.
The Order of the Croatian Interlace, awarded for an exceptional contribution to the development and international standing of the Republic of Croatia and the well-being of its citizens, was conferred upon Vladimir Burušić, Gordana Tomljanović-Tiljak, Ljiljana Vučemilović-Šimunović, Vinka Radić Tuškan, Sanja Šale, Branka Krznec, Mirela Mihalina, Višnja Kanižaj, Andeja Brekalo, Stanislav Huđek, Željko Lipušić, Josip Čavlović, Ivo Babić, Dubravko Fuljatić, Goran Posavec, Drago Kovač, Nenad Marković, Damir Antić, Josip Vorih, Kazimir Lovaković, Stjepan Lamešević, Dragan Dekan, Ivica Šteingel, Ratko Dovičin, Ivica Novak, Robert Soldo, Miroslav Harapin, Zoran Josipović, Zdenko Šćepina (posthumously), and Nenad Duspara.
The Homeland War Memorial Medal, awarded for participation in the Homeland War, was conferred upon Marijan Slivonja (posthumously), Slobodan Gavrić (posthumously), Damir Trupković, Ivon Bebić, Željko Jakovljević, Dubravko Fuljatić, Ivo Babić, Stanislav Huđek, Dragan Dekan, Vencel Čuljak, Višnja Kanižaj, Ivan Pintarić, Danijel Vuković, Josip Dragutin Koštić, and Ivan Pasariček. The Homeland Gratitude Memorial Medal, awarded for honourable and exemplary service, was conferred upon Željko Hajtok.
Speaking on behalf of the decorated Croatian defenders and former members of the 1st Guards Brigade “Tigers,” Vencel Čuljak thanked President Milanović for the decorations and recalled the brigade’s wartime record. “The 1st Guards Brigade ‘Tigers’ was the first unit to put up strong resistance to the villains and invaders. Nearly 12,000 members served in the brigade, including 146 women. A total of 368 members were killed, while five are still listed as missing. Another 1,750 members were wounded, 31 are 100-percent disabled Croatian Homeland War veterans, and 220 endured abuse in Serb-Chetnik prison camps,” he said.
“On this day, All Souls’ Day, we remember with deep respect and immense gratitude all our fallen Croatian defenders who laid down their lives for our homeland, as well as all those who remain missing and the civilian victims of the Homeland War,” Mr. Čuljak said in his address.
The following attended the ceremony in the Office of the President of the Republic: Chief of the General Staff of the Croatian Armed Forces Lieutenant General Tihomir Kundid, Commander of the Croatian Army Major General Blaž Beretin, Commander of the Croatian Army Guards Mechanized Brigade Brigadier General Mirko Stošić, President of the Commission for Military Decorations and Awards Major General (Ret.) Josip Stojković, and the President of the 1st Guards Brigade “Tigers” War Veterans’ Association Darko Katuša.
PHOTO: Office of the President of the Republic of Croatia / Ana Marija Katić, Filip Glas