{"id":45419,"date":"2026-11-03T15:53:46","date_gmt":"2026-11-03T14:53:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.predsjednik.hr\/?post_type=news&p=45419"},"modified":"2026-11-03T15:53:54","modified_gmt":"2026-11-03T14:53:54","slug":"president-milanovic-decorates-voluntary-blood-donors-their-motive-for-donating-blood-is-to-help-someone-they-do-not-know-that-is-why-donors-deserve-special-recognition","status":"publish","type":"news","link":"https:\/\/www.predsjednik.hr\/en\/news\/president-milanovic-decorates-voluntary-blood-donors-their-motive-for-donating-blood-is-to-help-someone-they-do-not-know-that-is-why-donors-deserve-special-recognition\/","title":{"rendered":"President Milanovi\u0107 Decorates Voluntary Blood Donors: Their motive for donating blood is to help someone they do not know; that is why donors deserve special recognition"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The President of the Republic Zoran Milanovi\u0107 today presented the Order of the Croatian Star with the Effigy of Katarina Zrinska to the second group of voluntary blood donors honoured for 2024 at a reception held at the Office of the President of the Republic. This high distinction is awarded in recognition of the noble and humanitarian act of donating blood more than 100 times by men and more than 75 times by women.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

President Milanovi\u0107 highlighted the special significance of these decorations compared to all other state decorations awarded by the head of state, stressing that they are part of a tradition that transcends the terms of individual presidents. \u201cThe motives for donating blood are first and foremost humanitarian \u2013 to help someone you do not know,\u201d President Milanovi\u0107 said, adding that the burden of this humanitarian responsibility should not always fall on the same shoulders, but that as many citizens as possible should take part in voluntary blood donation drives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although the criteria for receiving the decoration are clear and straightforward \u2013 100 blood donations for men and 75 for women \u2013 the President pointed out that behind these figures lies an enormous and exceptional personal commitment that can in no way be regarded as routine or commonplace. \u201cThere is nothing routine about your lives, what you do or what you make sacrifices for. Very few people in Croatia donate blood this many times. You are exceptional individuals who deserve special recognition, and we will continue to honour you,\u201d the President said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Order of the Croatian Star with the Effigy of Katarina Zrinska was received by the following 79 voluntary blood donors, out of the 214 recipients of the decoration in 2024: Anti\u0107 Dean, Antolovi\u0107 Mladen, Antunovi\u0107 Ton\u0107i, Banjan Liljana, Bartol Denis, Boljev\u010dan Damir, Bo\u017ei\u010dkovi\u0107 Edi, Brajdi\u0107 Neven, Brajkovi\u0107 Bo\u017eidar, Buli\u0107 Berislav, Cuculi\u0107 Neven, \u010cop Sre\u0107ko, \u010culi\u0107 \u0160imo, \u0106urkovi\u0107 Branimir, Dagostin Marija, Despot Zrinko, Dimini\u0107 Paolo, Donadi\u0107 Boris, Drkulec Darko, Dvorabi\u0107 Hrvoje, \u0110ud Igor, File\u0161 An\u0111elko, Fri\u0161 Tihomir, Fumi\u0107 Svjetlana, Ga\u0161par Darko, Glibota \u0110ino, Gojak Nik\u0161a, Golja Barbara, Gomer\u010di\u0107 Mirjana, Grgurevi\u0107 Marijan, Guidi Marino, Hartl Darko, Hegedu\u0161 Marijo, Iskra Berislav, Jakus Ton\u0107i, Jur\u010devi\u0107 Milan, Juri\u0107 Miroslav, Kelihar Ivica, Kova\u010devi\u0107 Borislav, Kralj Vilim, Kr\u0161njavi Mladen, Kuhari\u0107 Damir, Kurtovi\u0107 Mario, Leljak Robert, Lipnik Anton, Ljubej Davor, Mad\u017earevi\u0107 Sa\u0161a, Mandari\u0107 Ante, Matanovi\u0107 Goran, Matezovi\u0107 Ivica, Medi\u0107 Damir, Mijatov Vladimir, Milnovi\u0107 Zlatko, Miluni\u0107 Tomislav, Min\u010di\u0107 Slavko, Mu\u017ea Viktor, Neki\u0107 Milan, O\u017eegovi\u0107 Tomislav, Papa Mladen, Pa\u0161ara Robert, Perni\u0107 Mauro, Pe\u0161\u0107ica Slavko, Pletikosa Dra\u017een, Posavec \u017deljko, Puntari\u0107 Dinko, Radalj Katarina, Slavina Marjan, Smoljo Ante, \u0160enjug Marko, \u0160iljkovi\u0107 Marijan, \u0160libar Dra\u017een, Tanodi Ru\u017eica, Tumpak Sini\u0161a, Valkovi\u0107 Leon, Vojkovi\u0107 Jure, Vukeli\u0107 Darko, Zja\u010di\u0107 Tomislav, Zlatar Tomislav, and \u017dikovi\u0107 Milenko.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Speaking on behalf of the recipients, Mr. Dra\u017een Pletikosa said that the decorated voluntary blood donors were proud that the Republic of Croatia had a sufficient supply of safe blood and blood products to meet the needs of its healthcare system. \u201cThis is proof that our country still possesses a great treasure: people who are willing to selflessly help others when they need it most. We regard the decoration you have presented to us today as a great honour, both for us personally and for the blood donor community in Croatia, whose members have been quietly and selflessly helping others for many years,\u201d Mr. Pletikosa said.<\/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 noted that throughout its 148 years of work in Croatia, the Croatian Red Cross had faced numerous challenges. \u201cFrom natural disasters and floods to epidemics and wars, the Croatian Red Cross has faced many challenges, but our volunteers are our strength. They are the strength of our organisation, and at the top of that pyramid are voluntary blood donors,\u201d the Croatian Red Cross President said.<\/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 Defence Ivica Oluji\u0107, Adviser to the President of the Republic for Homeland War Veterans Marijan Marekovi\u0107, Adviser to the President of the Republic for Education Jadranka \u017darkovi\u0107, Adviser to the President of the Republic for Local and Regional Self-Government Relations Nik\u0161a Peronja, Deputy Head of the Cabinet of the President of the Republic Ivana Pu\u0161onji\u0107, Assistant Adviser to the President of the Republic for Foreign and European Policy Ivan Mutavd\u017ei\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

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

The President of the Republic Zoran Milanovi\u0107 today presented the Order of the Croatian Star with the Effigy of Katarina Zrinska to the second group of voluntary blood donors honoured for 2024 at a reception held at the Office of the President of the Republic. This high distinction is awarded in recognition of the noble and humanitarian act of donating blood more than 100 times by men and more than 75 times by women.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":45420,"template":"","news-cat":[12],"class_list":["post-45419","news","type-news","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","news-cat-news"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nPresident Milanovi\u0107 Decorates Voluntary Blood Donors: Their motive for donating blood is to help someone they do not know; that is why donors deserve special recognition - 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-their-motive-for-donating-blood-is-to-help-someone-they-do-not-know-that-is-why-donors-deserve-special-recognition\/\" \/>\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: Their motive for donating blood is to help someone they do not know; that is why donors deserve special recognition - President of the Republic of Croatia - Zoran Milanovi\u0107\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"The President of the Republic Zoran Milanovi\u0107 today presented the Order of the Croatian Star with the Effigy of Katarina Zrinska to the second group of voluntary blood donors honoured for 2024 at a reception held at the Office of the President of the Republic. 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