President of the Republic Attends Graduation Ceremony of Undergraduate and Graduate Students at Croatian Defence Academy
The President of the Republic and Commander in Chief of the Croatian Armed Forces Zoran Milanović attended a ceremony marking the 29th anniversary of the foundation of the “Dr. Franjo Tuđman” Croatian Defence Academy and a graduation ceremony of undergraduate and graduate students of the Military Engineering and Military Leadership and Management study programmes.
In his address, the President of the Republic spoke of his participation earlier this year in the Honorary and Protection Battalion anniversary ceremony at Tuškanac, recalling that Covid-19 arrived in Croatia on that day. “Almost a year has passed – a sad, unusual, confusing year in which we all had expectations and hopes. I hope that things are coming to an end, that is, hope is not enough and knowledge is needed here, the knowledge to develop a vaccine,” said the President. “This is the first time that humanity has encountered a disease, which, unlike in 1919 and the Spanish flu, it is able to respond to immediately, I believe quite successfully,” added President Milanović.
The President said that the vaccine will come and that although there may not be enough available at first, soon there would be more vaccine than needed, given the number of people who will want to be vaccinated. “Therefore, those who want to be vaccinated should be vaccinated as soon as possible and those who do not want should not be vaccinated. I hope that the Croatian Army will be among the first to be vaccinated. Nobody discussed this, not even those who make the decision, and that decision is political; it is not made by experts or medical workers, it is simply a matter of priority in society,” said the President.
Croatia has for many years been a member of NATO, a powerful alliance in which we will remain in the years to come, said the President and Commander in Chief to the male and female officers, the future commanders of the Croatian Army. “The world is changing dynamically and chaotically as never before. We are part of that world. In that world we have to rely on others but also be very concentrated and focused, as well as selfish, on our interests, not be led by the first impulse and signal coming from those who are bigger and stronger just because they say so. Your job is to defend Croatia and in doing so to follow the framework instructions, decisions and orders of democratically elected Croatian authorities. Things are changing, situations that we cannot influence are arising and that is why the insecurity of the world is a challenge that will mark at least the first years, the first decade of your career,” President Milanović underscored.
“I wish you health and self-confidence, of the kind that the Croatian handball players showed yesterday in the match against the great Danes, as in the battle between Odysseus and Cyclops. And that is how I see the role of the Croatian Army and the Croatian state. We have the heart of the greatest warrior, but sometimes we must have Odysseus’s cunning, agility and adaptability to complete our mission and safely return home. Regarding missions, as long as I am the Commander in Chief, Croatia will repeatedly analyse in good faith, and in depth, where it is sending its troops to see if that is in our interest. Otherwise you give in to chaos… and let others decide for you. Croatia had to endure that in its history for a long time and doesn’t have to again. Towards no one with ill intentions, nor with malice, but in good faith and with good intentions towards everyone. That is the only way to run Croatia in the present and the future,” President Milanović concluded.
On the occasion of the “Dr. Franjo Tuđman” Croatian Defence Academy Day, the President of the Republic and Commander in Chief of the Croatian Armed Forces Zoran Milanović decorated, promoted and commended the most deserving members of the academy.
PHOTO: Office of the President of the Republic of Croatia / Dario Andrišek