The Croatian Army Will Return from Afghanistan
The President of the Republic of Croatia and Commander in Chief of the Croatian Armed Forces Zoran Milanović took part in the official change of command ceremony of the Chief of the General Staff of the Croatian Armed Forces between General Mirko Šundov and Vice Admiral Robert Hranj.
In his speech President Milanović thanked General Mirko Šundov and Vice Admiral Robert Hranj. “The former for what he has done until now in his long, honourable and impeccable career for the Croatian army, the Croatian Armed Forces and the Republic of Croatia, and to the latter, I am certain, for everything he will do, as well as for all he has already done”.
“At first we should remember all those who have fallen for the Republic of Croatia, those who were wounded, those missing, those who defended Croatia in 1991, those who liberated it”, the President noted, adding that they are people without whom present-day Croatia would not exist.
President Milanović also talked about the withdrawal of the Croatian army from Afghanistan. In this regard, he noted that Croatia is not just defended from within and on its borders. He reminded of the Constitutional provision which clearly stipulates the duties of the Croatian army: “protection of the sovereignty and the territorial integrity of the Republic of Croatia. The Croatian army will return from Afghanistan and will further be present in the world, in hot spots, and where they escalate and in areas where they can act preventively, but first and always taking into account our interests”, the President of the Republic and Commander in Chief of the Croatian Armed Forces stated.
Furthermore, he noted that the military profession is not just an occupation, but a calling. “A soldier is one who gives himself entirely, does not ask questions, takes the blows, and does not expect gratitude. A soldier, male or female, is one who is ready to sacrifice his or her life”, President Milanović added.
He said that today we live in a world which is unstable and we do not know the challenges, distresses or disasters we will have to face as early as tomorrow. “Five years ago we experienced a huge migratory wave, it probably will not happen again. However, should something similar occur, I, the Government, the Prime Minister, all those who are at the head of this country and those who assist us, will have to sit down as soon as possible and agree on what steps to take in a situation that we cannot clearly predict. Since the law has already been amended on the engagement of the Croatian army and the possibility for it to assist the police in protecting the border, we have to reach a clear decision on the rules of engagement of the Croatian army,”, President Milanović underlined, and concluded that this can only be accomplished by unified and rational politics, political parties and all the participants in the process.
