President Milanović in Split: The Croatian Navy must have ships for the coast guard, I expect a commitment from the Government and the Prime Minister
“The Croatian Navy cannot do without material support, it cannot do without ships”, the President of the Republic and Commander in Chief of the Croatian Armed Forces Zoran Milanović said during a ceremony marking the 31st anniversary of the founding of the Croatian Navy in Split.
“I want us to solve these technical issues as soon as possible so that our ships – those being built, those that should be built and those that should have been built – finally set sail! I expect a very strong commitment from the Croatian Government, the Prime Minister personally. Croatia must have a complete coast guard because it’s not good even for the spirit within the military if some rightfully get, very late, like the Air Force, while others stagnate without explanation. They will be discontent. It’s not good, it’s not good for the spirit. And that is why I keep my head up and believe that we will solve this problem”, President Milanović said talking about the delay in the construction of ships for the Croatian Navy.
The President added that the Croatian Navy Day ceremony is not the time to name names, but he believes that we should have had these ships by now. “We need ten ships. I guess we will manage to manage, but as long as we trust in managing, it’s not good that time has passed. You managed thirty years ago. What I expect is order, rules – everything that has always made us part of the Western world. For me, the West doesn’t mean any common fanaticism, but organization, order, some fundamental legal organization of society, the political system, freedom, fair wages for fair work, execution of contracts, payment for work done, as agreed and when agreed”, President Milanović explained.
Regarding the Croatian Navy, the President of the Republic said that, like the other two vital branches of the Croatian Armed Forces, it was created from scratch and that it had a special, real, but also symbolic role in the Homeland War. “The only Slavic nation that has been tied to the sea since its origins is the Croatian nation. None of the others was born by the sea, next to the sea and organically tied to the sea like Croatia. Nor any other Slavic nation. Many later went out to sea, lived at sea, sailed the sea, but none even close to the Croats. These more than a thousand kilometres of coastline, and not just anywhere, almost in the heart of Europe, are unique to us, the space that we defended, that we inhabited and that God gave us”, President Milanović stated.
“Croatia is in the European Union and NATO. Of course, this would not have happened without the Croatian Army, without those who first defended the country, and then created it. Croatia is the last to have joined the European Union and I’m afraid no one will join for a long time. But we are where we are, we look at ourselves first and foremost and our interest above all”, President Milanović said, pointing out that Croatia, as an equal member of NATO, will participate equally in all emerging activities and activities of that NATO, but according to its own will and judgements. “Whether it’s in the Middle East if we decide, and we won’t, whether it’s in Kosovo, where we are good enough to guard the medieval monuments of Serbian spirituality 24 hours a day, a very delicate task that the Croatian Army got in the division of duties. This is not a political aspiration and decision, but that is why we are prevented from being present, event at the headquarters level, in the mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina. That will change and no one in NATO will oppose it. And it’s better for them not to oppose it, because our intentions were never greedy, predatory, but defensive and humane. To those whom your predecessors saved their lives and made the state possible, today they don’t even show a minimum of courteous gratitude, let alone something more. We live with that and we will live, neither frustrated, nor desperate, nor unhappy, but aware that we have to fight for our rights, righteousness and justice alone”, the President pointed out.
“The Croatian Army and the Croatian Navy have one primary task. It’s the defense of the homeland, its people, inhabitants, the Croatian nation and all those who live in Croatia, Croatian citizens, Croatian borders and the Croatian democratic government elected in democratic elections. That makes us the West. We are the West, we fought under the flags of the West for centuries, but also under the flags of the Croatian identity, which is one, indivisible and special, which is ours, which only we fully understand and which no one but us cares about. It we do not defend it, improve it, nurture it, teach it to our children, critically examine it – we will no longer be us”, President Milanović concluded.
On the occasion of Croatian Navy Day, the President of the Republic and Commander in Chief of the Croatian Armed Forces Zoran Milanović, based on his constitutional and legal powers, made Decisions on awards, military medals, promotions and commendations, as follows:
For outstanding contribution to the development and reputation of the Republic of Croatia and the well-being of its citizens, Captain (N) Šime Matas, Lieutenant Colonel Mirko Dajak, Lieutenant Colonel Mile Ostojić, Sergeant Major Matko Čović and Sergeant Major Matko Šušić are awarded the Order of the Croatian Interlace.
Lieutenant Commander Anđelko Škara is promoted to the rank of Commander. Lieutenant Mario Musulin is promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Commander. Lieutenants Junior Grade Marko Kruljac and Ante Petrović are promoted to the rank of Lieutenant.
Sergeant Toni Ćatipović is awarded the Bronze Medal for Sports Achievements for his results in official international competitions. Commander Krunoslav Kralj is commended by the Commander in Chief for achieving above-average results in the execution of assigned tasks.
Decorations, recognitions and awards were presented by the President of the Republic and Commander in Chief of the Croatian Armed Forces together with the Commander of the Croatian Navy Rear Admiral Ivo Raffanelli. Alongside President Milanović at the ceremony on Croatian Navy Day were the Adviser to the President for Defense and National Security Dragan Lozančić, and the Head of the Military Office in the Cabinet for Defense and National Security Read Admiral Predrag Stipanović.
As part of the ceremony of the 31st anniversary of the founding of the Croatian Navy, the President of the Republic and Commander in Chief of the Croatian Armed Forces Zoran Milanović threw a laurel wreath in the sea in Kaštela Bay in memory of all the fallen Croatian sailors.
PHOTO: Office of the President of the Republic of Croatia / Filip Glas