President Milanović: Today is the most important day for the Croatian Army
The President of the Republic and Commander in Chief of the Croatian Armed Forces Zoran Milanović extended his congratulations to all members of the Croatian Armed Forces on the occasion of Croatian Armed Forces Day and the 35th anniversary of the formation of the Croatian Army. At a formal reception held at the 1st Croatian Guards Corps Barracks, President Milanović offered special congratulations to decorated and promoted members of the Armed Forces, describing the honours as “an encouragement to continue their careers — special military careers, unique life callings and choices.”
“Today is the most important day for the Croatian Army. I want all of us to uphold the standing of the Republic of Croatia and protect our national interests, while remaining good, loyal, and decent neighbours to the states and peoples with whom we can and must cooperate, and to take that responsibility seriously. At the same time, we must be resolute and highly prudent in defending what we define as being in our interest and what is worth defending — primarily through peaceful and diplomatic means, through dialogue with others, through coalitions, as long as that remains possible, and I am convinced that it can go a long way,” President Milanović said in his address.
On the occasion of Croatian Armed Forces Day and Croatian Army Day, the President of the Republic of Croatia and Commander in Chief of the Croatian Armed Forces Zoran Milanović exercised his constitutional and legal authority to issue decisions on decorations, promotions, and commendations.
At the ceremony, the Order of the Croatian Trefoil, awarded for exceptional merits for the Republic of Croatia acquired in a state of war, in an immediate threat of war or under special circumstances in peace, was conferred upon Brigadier General Krešimir Ražov, Colonel Damir Barišić, Colonel Mladen Prebežac, Colonel Ivan Radić, Master Sergeant Željko Nedeljković, and Master Sergeant Slavko Ocelić.
The Order of the Croatian Interlace, awarded for extraordinary contributions to the development and reputation of the Republic of Croatia and the welfare of its citizens, was received by Colonel Dražen Batrnek and Sergeant Major Davor Kamenski, while the Homeland Gratitude Memorial Medal, awarded for honourable and exemplary service, was conferred upon Brigadier General Mijo Validžić, Lieutenant Colonel Siniša Marić, and Major Sanela Lažeta.
The President of the Republic and Commander in Chief of the Croatian Armed Forces Zoran Milanović promoted three officers to the rank of Brigadier General. Promoted to Brigadier General were Colonel Robert Suntešić, Colonel Mirko Stošić, and Colonel Mile Vukičević. Promoted to the rank of Colonel were Lieutenant Colonel Anto Čičak, Lieutenant Colonel Hrvoje Andrija Puškarić, Lieutenant Colonel Robert Paradžik, and Lieutenant Colonel Davor Stanković, while promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel were Major Boris Lokas, Major Zoran Sokolović, Major Mario Štimac, Major Rajko-Rafael Boban, and Major Mario Vuković.
For successfully carrying out their duties and achieving above-average results in the execution of assigned tasks, on the occasion of the observance of Croatian Armed Forces Day and Croatian Army Day, President Milanović presented commendations to Lieutenant Colonel Krunoslav Slavinec and Major Petar Jurić.
The President of the Republic of Croatia and Commander in Chief of the Croatian Armed Forces Zoran Milanović decorated a total of 387 members of the Ministry of Defence and the Armed Forces of the Republic of Croatia. A total of 44 members received the Order of the Croatian Trefoil, 130 members received the Order of the Croatian Interlace, and 213 members received the Homeland Gratitude Memorial Medal.
In total, he regularly promoted 143 active-duty male and female officers and two military specialist officers, and exceptionally promoted 15 active-duty officers.
On behalf of those decorated, promoted, and commended, Brigadier General Krešimir Ražov, Commander of the Croatian Air Force, addressed the audience and, in addition to thanking President Milanović, his colleagues in the Armed Forces, and family members, expressed special gratitude to “the giants from Kranjčevićeva Street, the first Croatian police officers.”
“Those for whom we are all standing here today, in those circumstances and at that time, set out from the stadium in Kranjčevićeva against all mathematics, arithmetic, and calculation — hoping against all hope, defying all logic. They went forward with their hearts. They gave everything they had; they gave their hearts, and many of them ultimately gave their lives. They are woven into the foundations of the modern Croatian state and the Croatian Armed Forces. These giants built the Croatian Armed Forces and defended the Croatian state, and it is now our duty to build the Croatian Armed Forces with the same great self-sacrifice and to defend the Croatian state with uncompromising determination,” said Brigadier General Ražov.
He added that the war was won not only through brilliant operations and battles, but also “through the exceptional discipline, loyalty, and obedience of the Croatian soldier to the wise state and military leadership of the time.” “That is the key, and that is what defines us today as Croatian soldiers. It is also the key to our future victories and battles, because we are the Croatian Guard,” concluded the Commander of the Croatian Air Force.
At the formal reception at the 1st Croatian Guards Corps Barracks were the envoy of the Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Croatia and Minister of Defence, State Secretary in the Ministry of Defence Branko Hrg, Deputy Speakers of the Croatian Parliament, chairs of parliamentary committees, Members of Parliament, Chief of the General Staff of the Croatian Armed Forces Lieutenant General Tihomir Kundid, Deputy Director of the Security and Intelligence Agency Hrvoje Omrčanin, Director of the Military Security Intelligence Agency Major General Ivan Turkalj, Head of the Office of the National Security Council Valentin Franjić, Rector of the “Dr. Franjo Tuđman” Defence and Security University Ivica Lučić, Chief Defence Inspector Lieutenant General Siniša Jurković, representatives of the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Croatia, Director of the General Staff of the Croatian Armed Forces Major General Denis Tretinjak, generals and senior officers – commanders of branches and commands, Croatian Defence Academy, heads of directorates, commanders of Armed Forces units, the senior non-commissioned officer of the Armed Forces, representatives of the NCO support chain, special adviser to the Minister of the Interior, retired general Mladen Markač, members of the Police Director’s Collegium, Chief Firefighting Commander, former Ministers of Defence of the Republic of Croatia, former Chiefs of the General Staff of the Armed Forces, retired generals, admirals and senior officers, military attachés and representatives of the diplomatic corps accredited to the Republic of Croatia, and representatives of veterans’ and civilian associations originating from the Homeland War and associations of veterans of units of the Ministry of the Interior and the Croatian Armed Forces.
FOTO: Office of the President of the Republic of Croatia / Ana Marija Katić, Filip Glas