{"id":45201,"date":"2026-10-26T15:44:12","date_gmt":"2026-10-26T14:44:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.predsjednik.hr\/?post_type=news&p=45201"},"modified":"2026-10-26T15:44:17","modified_gmt":"2026-10-26T14:44:17","slug":"president-milanovic-decorates-voluntary-blood-donors-thanks-to-you-croatia-is-among-the-noblest-societies","status":"publish","type":"news","link":"https:\/\/www.predsjednik.hr\/en\/news\/president-milanovic-decorates-voluntary-blood-donors-thanks-to-you-croatia-is-among-the-noblest-societies\/","title":{"rendered":"President Milanovi\u0107 Decorates Voluntary Blood Donors: Thanks to You, Croatia is Among the Noblest Societies"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

\u201cThis is a special occasion every year, and I cannot express the depth of gratitude and respect I feel for you,\u201d the President of the Republic Zoran Milanovi\u0107 said today to voluntary blood donors at a decoration ceremony where he presented the Order of the Croatian Star with the Effigy of Katarina Zrinska in recognition of the noble and humanitarian act of donating blood more than 100 times for men and 75 times for women in 2024.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe are among the countries and societies where the culture and practice of blood donation are highly developed. Indeed, we are already among the best and noblest, thanks to people like you,\u201d President Milanovi\u0107 said. \u201cThere is a saying that Croats are quick to use \u2013 \u2018You\u2019re so good, I\u2019d give you my blood\u2019 \u2013 that ought to be protected, because, in fact, no one but you has the right to say it. It has become a common metaphor, yet you are the only ones who actually do it,\u201d the President added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhat makes you special as a group is that you have all met a particular criterion \u2013 donating blood 100 or 75 times \u2013 yet each of you has a unique story, and each of you is driven by your own deeply human motives,\u201d President Milanovi\u0107 concluded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Order of the Croatian Star with the Effigy of Katarina Zrinska was presented by the President of the Republic on Monday to 85 voluntary blood donors, including 11 women and 74 men: Bartoli\u0107 Zdravko, Brcko \u017deljka, Br\u010dina Antun, Bruli\u0107 Samir, Buljan Luka, Bun\u010di\u0107 Toma, Cestar Milivoj, Cipri\u0161 Ivan, Crnkovi\u0107 Dra\u017een, Cuvaj Tomislav, \u010ci\u010dek Vlado, \u010cun\u010di\u0107 Stjepan, Djarmati Slavko, \u0110urin Marica, Filipi\u0107 \u017deljko, Gajski Nenad, Galovi\u0107 Mladen, Golubar Josip, Grade\u010dak Boris, Haramina \u017deljko, Ha\u0161pl Jirka, Horak Vitomir, Horvatinovi\u0107 Mladen, Ili\u0107 Miroslav, Ivankovi\u0107 Zdravko, Jane\u0161 Silvana, Jureki\u0107 Savka, Klasan Vlado, Kne\u017eevi\u0107 Dragutin, Kocijan Zdravko, Kohajda Tomislav, Koki\u0107 Josip, Korman Damir, Kos Vladimir, Kosalec Miroslav, Kosalec Zvonko, Ko\u017ei\u0107 Alen, Kukec Tomislav, Kule\u017e Zlatko, Ku\u0161en Anton, Lesi\u0107 Miljenko, Losso Sini\u0161a, Magdi\u0107 Bo\u017eica, Malko\u010d Ivan, Medved Dalibor, Mihali\u0107 Alen, Mihi\u0107 Miroslav, Milde Alen, Milek Mladen, Milovec Slobodan, Mlakar Hrvoje, Mu\u010dnjak Vesnica, Mutak Mladen, Novak Vladimir, Novak Zlatko, Obad Igor, Pajni\u0107 Zdravko, Paunovi\u0107 Zdenko, Petak Stjepan, Pinta\u010d Zdravka, Polak Damir, Poljak Stjepan, Pozni\u0107 Ivan, Puzi\u0107 Bojan, Rado\u0161evi\u0107 Darko, Rebi\u0107 \u017deljko, Ru\u017ei\u0107 Dubravko, Stojko Stanislav, Stojko Vera, \u0160eni\u010dnjak Zoran, \u0160imek Stanko, \u0160imunovi\u0107 Zdravko, \u0160tefanec Mladen, \u0160tefanec Sanela, \u0160tulac Vladimir, \u0160vegovi\u0107 Mario, Te\u017eak Marija, Ti\u010dak Tihomir, Uroi\u0107 Stjepan, Varja\u010di\u0107 Mladen, Var\u017ei\u0107 Ivica, Visinski Stjepan, Vuksani\u0107 Tomislav, Vuli\u0107 Robert, and Zimet Adam.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Speaking on behalf of the recipients, voluntary blood donor Sanela \u0160tefanec said: \u201cWe come from different parts of Croatia, are of different ages and have different life stories, but we are united by one simple yet profound desire \u2013 the desire to help others. We are proud that the Republic of Croatia has a sufficient supply of safe blood and blood products to meet the needs of its healthcare system. This is proof that our country still possesses a great treasure: people who are selflessly willing to help others.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On behalf of the 130 Croatian Red Cross branches, their volunteers and staff, and the voluntary blood donors in attendance, Croatian Red Cross President \u017deljko Grubi\u0161i\u0107 thanked President Milanovi\u0107 for hosting the reception and presenting the decorations. He emphasized that, in times when nothing seems certain, one thing remains constant: the work of the Croatian Red Cross and its commitment to helping those in need. \u201cAt the forefront of those who help others are our blood donors, who are our heroes. They deserve the highest recognition, and your decision to confer these prestigious state decorations upon them is an expression of that recognition. Thank you from the bottom of my heart,\u201d said the President of the Croatian Red Cross.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition to the President of the Croatian Red Cross, the decoration ceremony was attended by Croatian Red Cross Executive President Robert Markt, Head of the Health Services Department Suzana Borko, Director of the Croatian Institute for Transfusion Medicine Irena Juki\u0107, M. D., Ph. D., and Head of the Blood Collection Department Patricija Topi\u0107 \u0160estan, M. D.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

President Milanovi\u0107 was accompanied by Adviser to the President of the Republic for Human Rights and Civil Society Melita Muli\u0107, Adviser to the President of the Republic for Foreign and European Policy Neven Pelicari\u0107, Adviser to the President of the Republic for Education Jadranka \u017darkovi\u0107, Commissioner of the President of the Republic for Sports Tomislav Pa\u0161kvalin, and President of the State Commission for Decorations and Awards, Academician Velimir Neidhardt.<\/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 <\/div>\n\n\n\n\n

PHOTO: Office of the President of the Republic of Croatia \/ Dario Andri\u0161ek, Tomislav Bu\u0161ljeta<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\u201cThis is a special occasion every year, and I cannot express the depth of gratitude and respect I feel for you,\u201d the President of the Republic Zoran Milanovi\u0107 said today to voluntary blood donors at a decoration ceremony where he presented the Order of the Croatian Star with the Effigy of Katarina Zrinska in recognition of the noble and humanitarian act of donating blood more than 100 times for men and 75 times for women in 2024.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":45202,"template":"","news-cat":[12],"class_list":["post-45201","news","type-news","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","news-cat-news"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nPresident Milanovi\u0107 Decorates Voluntary Blood Donors: Thanks to You, Croatia is Among the Noblest Societies - 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-decorates-voluntary-blood-donors-thanks-to-you-croatia-is-among-the-noblest-societies\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"President Milanovi\u0107 Decorates Voluntary Blood Donors: Thanks to You, Croatia is Among the Noblest Societies - 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