President Milanović Visits Požega and Našice, Tells People: Despite our disputes, we have a fundamental unity and faith in a common goal
On Sunday the President of the Republic Zoran Milanović visited the towns of Požega, where he took part in a ceremony marking the 30th anniversary of the formation of the 63rd “A” Independent Požega Battalion of the Corps of the National Guard of the Republic of Croatia, and Našice, where he attended an event celebrating municipal day. While in Požega, President Milanović toured the flood-affected community of Vidovci and spoke with residents and representatives of public services.
Extending his congratulations to the Independent Požega Battalion on its anniversary, the President said these words at a ceremony held at the football stadium: “I think we are satisfied with the country in which we live, despite all the misunderstandings, quarrels, disputes and harsh words, we are stable, strong, masters of our own destiny. There would be no Croatian independence, nor our right to say what we think, if in 1991 there were not a small number of good people who did enormous things for this country. At the end of 1991, almost all of you took part in the liberation of territory in Western Slavonia, which was an immeasurably important operation that only three years later proved to be strategic.”
Moreover, President Milanović emphasized that “never in the history of our people have we sought what belonged to others, it has always been the defense of our area,” and concluded: “Our state, despite our disputes, still has a fundamental unity, faith in a common goal and awareness of a common origin, although we are quite different from one other.”
On the 30th anniversary of its formation, the President of the Republic and Commander in Chief of the Croatian Armed Forces decorated members of the 63rd “A” Independent Požega Battalion of the Corps of the National Guard of the Republic of Croatia. The Order of Nikola Šubić Zrinski was awarded to Damir Soldo for a deed of valour in the Homeland War. The Order of the Croatian Cross was bestowed upon Krešimir Crnković for participating and being seriously wounded in the Homeland War.
Branko Rezo was posthumously decorated with the Order of the Croatian Trefoil for extraordinary services to the Republic of Croatia in a state of war and under special circumstances in peace. The Order of the Croatian Trefoil was presented to Zlatko Odžić, Ivica Rašić and Tatjana Štetić.
For extraordinary contributions to the development and the reputation of the Republic of Croatia, as well as to the welfare of its citizens, the Order of the Croatian Interlace was posthumously bestowed upon Josip Garić. The Order of the Croatian Interlace was awarded to Ivan-Ivica Milaković, Boris Faltinek, Zoran Bošnjak, Josip Pavunčec and Zvonimir Bogdanović. Rade Bilić received the Homeland War Memorial Medal.
In the town of Našice, where municipal day was celebrated, President Milanović said the following in his speech: “Work, build, develop yourselves. This is a tidy, well-organized town, and as such it provides an excellent basis for a good, comfortable life. We often complain that we are disappearing, that we will die out as a nation. We won’t. A declining population is a cause for concern, it is a call to action, but it is not a reason to despair. This is a beautiful, fertile region. It is a privilege to live in an area like this.”
Reminding of the history of European integration, the President of the Republic warned that “now we must stand on firm ground.” “What is there for us? Money, money. That is why I measure the performance of local government units by only one thing: by how much EU funds they managed to absorb, of the vast billions that are available to Croatia, but which one must know how to take. Going to Brussels to listen to smart advice there makes no sense, I would rather come to Našice,” the President concluded, extending his congratulations to the town’s residents on the Feast of St. Anthony.
PHOTO: Office of the President of the Republic of Croatia / Tomislav Bušljeta