{"id":42204,"date":"2026-02-26T15:00:34","date_gmt":"2026-02-26T14:00:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.predsjednik.hr\/?post_type=news&p=42204"},"modified":"2026-02-26T15:00:41","modified_gmt":"2026-02-26T14:00:41","slug":"president-milanovic-presents-officers-daggers-and-decorations-to-retired-croatian-army-officers","status":"publish","type":"news","link":"https:\/\/www.predsjednik.hr\/en\/news\/president-milanovic-presents-officers-daggers-and-decorations-to-retired-croatian-army-officers\/","title":{"rendered":"President Milanovi\u0107 Presents Officer\u2019s Daggers and Decorations to Retired Croatian Army Officers"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

\u201cNearly all of you actively participated in the Croatian Homeland War, fought and commanded, and those who did not, retired after having held the highest offices. Most of you were colonels, people who carried out their tasks and their duty to Croatia with honour, as the name and notion itself suggest (\u010dasnik = officer; \u010dast = honour)\u201c, the President of the Republic and Commander in Chief of the Croatian Armed Forces Zoran Milanovi\u0107 told the retired senior officers of the Croatian Armed Forces at a ceremony held on the occasion of their retirement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cToday you will symbolically receive an officer\u2019s dagger, some will receive a decoration, as a bond tying you to the Croatian Army. I believe that you are pleased with what you have accomplished in the Croatian Army, but first and foremost that you are content and fulfilled\u201c, President Milanovi\u0107 stated in his address, wishing the retired senior officers of the Croatian Armed Forces all the best in the days and years ahead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After completing their honourable and exemplary service to the Croatian Armed Forces, the President of the Republic and Commander in Chief of the Croatian Armed Forces decorated one general, colonels and captains (N) who retired in 2025, and presented officer\u2019s daggers as a token of appreciation for their lifelong commitment to the military service.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For extraordinary services to the Republic of Croatia in war and in exceptional circumstances in peace, the President of the Republic and Commander in Chief of the Croatian Armed Forces presented the Order of the Croatian Trefoil to Colonel Mira Mi\u0107i\u0107 and Colonel Igor Tabulov-Truta.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Order of the Croatian Interlace is presented for extraordinary contribution to the development and standing of the Republic of Croatia and the well-being of its citizens to Colonels Petar \u010ci\u0161, Robert Jurkovi\u0107 and Davor Kopanji. For honourable and exemplary service, the Homeland Gratitude Memorial Medal is presented to Colonel Mario Gjuri\u0107. The Homeland Gratitude Memorial Medal is presented to Colonel Nenad Samard\u017ei\u0107 for honourable and exemplary service on the occasion of the 30th<\/sup> anniversary of Croatian Army Day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Officer\u2019s daggers for honourable and exemplary service, dedicated exercise of duty, successful cooperation, mutual work and personal contribution to the creation and development of the Croatian Armed Forces are presented to a total of 37 retired senior officers: Major General Michael Kri\u017eanec, Colonels Zdenko Boban, Petar \u010ci\u0161, Vlado \u010culina, Mario Dadi\u0107, Mario Gjuri\u0107, Kre\u0161imir Grozdanovi\u0107, Mate Gudelj, Dra\u017een Jonji\u0107, Robert Jurkovi\u0107, Mladen Kapusti\u0107, Stjepan K\u00f6nig, Davor Kopanji, Slobodan Kratohvil, Asja Maduni\u0107, Igor Mandari\u0107, Mira Mi\u0107i\u0107, Mario Milo\u0161, Radovan Palmovi\u0107, Vlado Pavlovi\u0107, Zoran Pe\u0107u\u0161ak, Davorka Peri\u0107, Zoran Pervan, Milan Posel, Vladimir Po\u017egaj\u010di\u0107, Darko Puklavec, Dragutin Remenar, Nenad Samard\u017ei\u0107, Nediljko Siri\u0107, Mira Skukan, Igor \u0160ipu\u0161i\u0107, Igor Tabulov-Truta, Tihomir Zajec, and captains (N) Neven Kati\u0107, Nadan Petri, Jo\u0161ko \u0160anti\u0107 and Vlade Zoko.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Major General Michael Kri\u017eanec, former Croatian Air Force Commander, gave a thank you speech for the decorations and officer\u2019s daggers on behalf of the retired senior officers of the Croatian Armed Forces: \u201cI am grateful and honoured to stand before such an echelon of combatants, people who defended this state, I who did not, and therefore it is a burden and responsibility to speak in their name\u201d, retired Major General Kri\u017eanec stated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAll of us who stand here before you should be grateful for having had the honour and the chance to wear the uniform of the Croatian Army\u201d, he stated, and thanked family members, colleagues, subordinates and superiors with whom they served and those who led them in their careers. \u201cWe pledge that we will continue to be worthy of this uniform and ranks, decorations and everything that this uniform meant to us and to this people that we served,\u201d retired Major General Kri\u017eanec stated, adding that they will always remember all the good and bad things that happened to them in their careers and made them the people they are and \u201cthat we will remember with special reverence all the colleagues we had and lost, and especially those colleagues who remain behind us in the system to continue building it\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Attending the ceremony in the Office of the President of the Republic were the Chief of the General Staff of the Croatian Armed Forces Lieutenant General Tihomir Kundid, Director of the General Staff of the Croatian Armed Forces Major General Denis Tretinjak, Commander of the Croatian Army Major General Bla\u017e Beretin, Commander of the Croatian Navy Commodore Damir Dojki\u0107 and Commander of the \u201cDr. Franjo Tu\u0111man\u201d Croatian Defense Academy Major General Slaven Zdilar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Alongside the President of the Republic and Commander in Chief of the Croatian Armed Forces were the Head of the Cabinet of the President of the Republic Bartol \u0160imuni\u0107, the Adviser to the President for Defense Ivica Oluji\u0107, the Adviser to the President for Homeland War Veterans Marijan Marekovi\u0107, the Head of the Cabinet of Defense and National Security Colonel Franjo Hrala, the Secretary of the Cabinet of Defense and National Security of the Office of the President Sini\u0161a Mari\u0107 and the Staff officer for operational support of the Cabinet of Defense and National Security of the Office of the President Major Sanela La\u017eeta.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n \n <\/a>\n \n \n <\/a>\n \n \n <\/a>\n \n \n <\/a>\n \n \n <\/a>\n \n \n <\/a>\n \n \n <\/a>\n \n \n <\/a>\n \n \n <\/a>\n \n \n <\/a>\n \n \n <\/a>\n \n \n <\/a>\n \n \n <\/a>\n \n \n <\/a>\n \n \n <\/a>\n \n \n <\/a>\n \n \n <\/a>\n \n \n <\/a>\n \n \n <\/a>\n \n \n <\/a>\n \n \n <\/a>\n \n \n <\/a>\n \n \n <\/a>\n \n \n <\/a>\n \n \n <\/a>\n \n \n <\/a>\n \n \n <\/a>\n \n \n <\/a>\n \n \n <\/a>\n \n \n <\/a>\n \n \n <\/a>\n \n \n <\/a>\n \n \n <\/a>\n \n <\/div>\n\n\n\n\n

PHOTO: Office of the President of the Republic of Croatia \/ Filip Glas, Dario Andri\u0161ek<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\u201cNearly all of you actively participated in the Croatian Homeland War, fought and commanded, and those who did not, retired after having held the highest offices. Most of you were colonels, people who carried out their tasks and their duty to Croatia with honour, as the name and notion itself suggest (\u010dasnik = officer; \u010dast = honour)\u201c, the President of the Republic and Commander in Chief of the Croatian Armed Forces Zoran Milanovi\u0107 told the retired senior officers of the Croatian Armed Forces at a ceremony held on the occasion of their retirement.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":42203,"template":"","news-cat":[12],"class_list":["post-42204","news","type-news","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","news-cat-news"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nPresident Milanovi\u0107 Presents Officer\u2019s Daggers and Decorations to Retired Croatian Army Officers - President of the Republic of Croatia - Zoran Milanovi\u0107<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.predsjednik.hr\/en\/news\/president-milanovic-presents-officers-daggers-and-decorations-to-retired-croatian-army-officers\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"President Milanovi\u0107 Presents Officer\u2019s Daggers and Decorations to Retired Croatian Army Officers - President of the Republic of Croatia - Zoran Milanovi\u0107\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"\u201cNearly all of you actively participated in the Croatian Homeland War, fought and commanded, and those who did not, retired after having held the highest offices. Most of you were colonels, people who carried out their tasks and their duty to Croatia with honour, as the name and notion itself suggest (\u010dasnik = officer; \u010dast = honour)\u201c, the President of the Republic and Commander in Chief of the Croatian Armed Forces Zoran Milanovi\u0107 told the retired senior officers of the Croatian Armed Forces at a ceremony held on the occasion of their retirement.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.predsjednik.hr\/en\/news\/president-milanovic-presents-officers-daggers-and-decorations-to-retired-croatian-army-officers\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"President of the Republic of Croatia - Zoran Milanovi\u0107\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-02-26T14:00:41+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.predsjednik.hr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/DSC_0353.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"6079\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"3419\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"4 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.predsjednik.hr\\\/en\\\/news\\\/president-milanovic-presents-officers-daggers-and-decorations-to-retired-croatian-army-officers\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.predsjednik.hr\\\/en\\\/news\\\/president-milanovic-presents-officers-daggers-and-decorations-to-retired-croatian-army-officers\\\/\",\"name\":\"President Milanovi\u0107 Presents Officer\u2019s Daggers and Decorations to Retired Croatian Army Officers - President of the Republic of Croatia - Zoran Milanovi\u0107\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.predsjednik.hr\\\/en\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.predsjednik.hr\\\/en\\\/news\\\/president-milanovic-presents-officers-daggers-and-decorations-to-retired-croatian-army-officers\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.predsjednik.hr\\\/en\\\/news\\\/president-milanovic-presents-officers-daggers-and-decorations-to-retired-croatian-army-officers\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.predsjednik.hr\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/02\\\/DSC_0353.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-02-26T14:00:34+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-02-26T14:00:41+00:00\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.predsjednik.hr\\\/en\\\/news\\\/president-milanovic-presents-officers-daggers-and-decorations-to-retired-croatian-army-officers\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.predsjednik.hr\\\/en\\\/news\\\/president-milanovic-presents-officers-daggers-and-decorations-to-retired-croatian-army-officers\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.predsjednik.hr\\\/en\\\/news\\\/president-milanovic-presents-officers-daggers-and-decorations-to-retired-croatian-army-officers\\\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.predsjednik.hr\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/02\\\/DSC_0353.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.predsjednik.hr\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/02\\\/DSC_0353.jpg\",\"width\":6079,\"height\":3419},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.predsjednik.hr\\\/en\\\/news\\\/president-milanovic-presents-officers-daggers-and-decorations-to-retired-croatian-army-officers\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.predsjednik.hr\\\/en\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Vijesti\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.predsjednik.hr\\\/en\\\/news\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":3,\"name\":\"President Milanovi\u0107 Presents Officer\u2019s Daggers and Decorations to Retired Croatian Army Officers\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.predsjednik.hr\\\/en\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.predsjednik.hr\\\/en\\\/\",\"name\":\"President of the Republic of Croatia - Zoran Milanovi\u0107\",\"description\":\"Just another WordPress site\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.predsjednik.hr\\\/en\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"President Milanovi\u0107 Presents Officer\u2019s Daggers and Decorations to Retired Croatian Army Officers - President of the Republic of Croatia - Zoran Milanovi\u0107","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.predsjednik.hr\/en\/news\/president-milanovic-presents-officers-daggers-and-decorations-to-retired-croatian-army-officers\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"President Milanovi\u0107 Presents Officer\u2019s Daggers and Decorations to Retired Croatian Army Officers - President of the Republic of Croatia - Zoran Milanovi\u0107","og_description":"\u201cNearly all of you actively participated in the Croatian Homeland War, fought and commanded, and those who did not, retired after having held the highest offices. Most of you were colonels, people who carried out their tasks and their duty to Croatia with honour, as the name and notion itself suggest (\u010dasnik = officer; \u010dast = honour)\u201c, the President of the Republic and Commander in Chief of the Croatian Armed Forces Zoran Milanovi\u0107 told the retired senior officers of the Croatian Armed Forces at a ceremony held on the occasion of their retirement.","og_url":"https:\/\/www.predsjednik.hr\/en\/news\/president-milanovic-presents-officers-daggers-and-decorations-to-retired-croatian-army-officers\/","og_site_name":"President of the Republic of Croatia - Zoran Milanovi\u0107","article_modified_time":"2026-02-26T14:00:41+00:00","og_image":[{"width":6079,"height":3419,"url":"https:\/\/www.predsjednik.hr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/DSC_0353.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Est. reading time":"4 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.predsjednik.hr\/en\/news\/president-milanovic-presents-officers-daggers-and-decorations-to-retired-croatian-army-officers\/","url":"https:\/\/www.predsjednik.hr\/en\/news\/president-milanovic-presents-officers-daggers-and-decorations-to-retired-croatian-army-officers\/","name":"President Milanovi\u0107 Presents Officer\u2019s Daggers and Decorations to Retired Croatian Army Officers - President of the Republic of Croatia - Zoran Milanovi\u0107","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.predsjednik.hr\/en\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.predsjednik.hr\/en\/news\/president-milanovic-presents-officers-daggers-and-decorations-to-retired-croatian-army-officers\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.predsjednik.hr\/en\/news\/president-milanovic-presents-officers-daggers-and-decorations-to-retired-croatian-army-officers\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.predsjednik.hr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/DSC_0353.jpg","datePublished":"2026-02-26T14:00:34+00:00","dateModified":"2026-02-26T14:00:41+00:00","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.predsjednik.hr\/en\/news\/president-milanovic-presents-officers-daggers-and-decorations-to-retired-croatian-army-officers\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.predsjednik.hr\/en\/news\/president-milanovic-presents-officers-daggers-and-decorations-to-retired-croatian-army-officers\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.predsjednik.hr\/en\/news\/president-milanovic-presents-officers-daggers-and-decorations-to-retired-croatian-army-officers\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/www.predsjednik.hr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/DSC_0353.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.predsjednik.hr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/DSC_0353.jpg","width":6079,"height":3419},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.predsjednik.hr\/en\/news\/president-milanovic-presents-officers-daggers-and-decorations-to-retired-croatian-army-officers\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/www.predsjednik.hr\/en\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Vijesti","item":"https:\/\/www.predsjednik.hr\/en\/news\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"President Milanovi\u0107 Presents Officer\u2019s Daggers and Decorations to Retired Croatian Army Officers"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.predsjednik.hr\/en\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.predsjednik.hr\/en\/","name":"President of the Republic of Croatia - Zoran Milanovi\u0107","description":"Just another WordPress site","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.predsjednik.hr\/en\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.predsjednik.hr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news\/42204","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.predsjednik.hr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.predsjednik.hr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/news"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.predsjednik.hr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/42203"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.predsjednik.hr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=42204"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"news-cat","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.predsjednik.hr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news-cat?post=42204"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}