President Milanović Tells Soldiers: Preserve Peace, Stability and Balance in which Croatia Will Move Forward
The President of the Republic and Commander in Chief of the Croatian Armed Forces Zoran Milanović participated in a ceremony marking the 27th anniversary of the Honorary Protection Battalion, which was held at the Office of the President.
Congratulating the men and women who are members of the Honorary Protection Battalion on their day, President Milanović expressed his hope that life is now slowly returning to normal, one year after the first reported case of COVID-19 in Croatia.
“A difficult year is behind us, also financially, because every time our country catches its breath, gains energy and moves forward, something pulls us back. A new beginning is a wonderful thing, but we’ve had too many in the past thirty years,” said the President, expressing his belief that what lies ahead is only positive, progressive, challenging work that builds on what has already been achieved in terms of value and quality.
“As a country, we are doing everything we can for the Croatian Army to be modernly equipped, in order for people to see meaning and depth in the work they do, for this is not a job, this is a calling. This is a way of life,” said the President.
He called on members of the Honorary Protection Battalion to protect Croatia. “Preserve stability, peace and a balance in which Croatia, a country of similarities and differences among its people, lives and moves forward. We live here and we strive to be as well off as possible in the company of the most powerful and organized countries in the world and in the European Union, and for shocks such as the one in the past year to affects us – as a people, a nation, a family and as a community – as little as possible and not throw us off balance by much or at all. Stay what you have always been, an elite unit of the Croatian Army in the service and faithful to our homeland,” the President of the Republic and Commander in Chief of the Croatian Armed Forces underscored in his address.
With the participation of the Minister of Defence Mario Banožić, the Chief of the General Staff of the Croatian Armed Forces Admiral Robert Hranj and the Commander of the Honorary Protection Battalion Brigadier Elvis Burčul, decorations, commendations and awards were presented at the ceremony to members of the Honorary Protection Battalion.
The Order of the Croatian Interlace was presented to Captain Sanela Lažeta and Sergeant Major Darinka Kotarski; the President of the Republic and Commander in Chief of the Croatian Armed Forces commended Staff Sergeant Nenad Trglačnik; Sergeant Major Zdravko Grošinić was presented with a pair of binoculars; the Minister of Defence of the Republic of Croatia commended Sergeant Major Krešimir Naglić; Corporal Kristijan Bezić was awarded with a book and the Chief of the General Staff of the Croatian Armed Forces commended Sergeant First Class Dražen Hlaj.
On the occasion of Honorary Protection Battalion Day, the following also received awards and commendations: Captain Dražen Oškera, Second Lieutenant Vjekoslav Bilinovac, Staff Sergeants Ante Biošić, Tomislav Schirato, Danijel Đulabić and Nedeljko Rudež, Sergeants Tomislav Džinić, Alen Klarić and Stjepan Novak, Corporal Katarina Švegović, Corporals Franjo Briševac and Dario Božić, and Private First Class Zlatko Kuća.
At the ceremony marking the 27th anniversary of the Honorary Protection Battalion, a review of the Tactical-Technical Assembly was conducted, along with a presentation of the units’ capabilities.
PHOTO: Office of the President of the Republic of Croatia / Filip Glas i Dario Andrišek