President Milanović Receives Initiators and Winners of “Imperijal” Award Presented in Memory of Children Killed in Homeland War

The President of the Republic Zoran Milanović received today in the Office of the President of the Republic the members of the Association of Croatian Civilian Victims of the Homeland War of Dubrovnik-Neretva County and pupils, winners of the “Imperijal” award. This award is in memory of the children killed in the Homeland War, civilian victims, award instituted by their mothers in cooperation with Denis Pavela, winner of the state award for promoting children’s rights.

The presentation of the first “Imperijal” award was held on World Children’s Day, 20 November 2021. The Association announced that the award will be presented each year on this day. They explained that “Imperijal” is a unique way to mark the suffering of children in the Homeland War whereby “we respect the past, but look to our children’s future”, and added that they would like “Imperijal” to be a symbol not only of suffering, but of love and victory as well.

The goal of the award is to reward the children for their work and commitment. This year the award was presented to Josip Đurović, a pupil of Mokošica Elementary School, for volunteering and participating in a humanitarian event “Podijelimo radost Božića” (Let’s Share the Joy of Christmas) and for promoting the school’s and his community’s image, and Bruna Stojanović, a pupil of Montovjerna Elementary School, for promoting the school’s and the city of Dubrovnik’s image, and Filip Bašica, a pupil of Dubrovnik Gymnasium, as president of the National Council of Pupils of the Republic of Croatia, for promoting the school’s image.

The Association representatives thanked President Milanović for his support in holding the first presentation of the “Imperijal” award. President Milanović confirmed that they will have his support in the future as well.

In addition to the pupils who received the “Imperial” award attending the meeting were the president of the Association of Croatian Civilian Victims of the Homeland War of Dubrovnik-Neretva County Marija Lukšić and member Ana Bokun, and the winner of the award of the Croatian Parliament for promoting children’s rights and winner of the “Hrvatska Velika Nagrada Sigurnosti 2021” (Croatian Major Safety Award 2021), initiator and originator of the idea of the “Imperijal” award Denis Pavela, as well as the principal of Montovjerna Elementary School Dubrovnik Lucija Vujica.

Alongside President Milanović was the Adviser to the President for Human Rights and Civil Society Melita Mulić.

PHOTO: Office of the President of the Republic of Croatia / Dario Andrišek