President Milanović Presents Officer’s Daggers to Senior Croatian Army Officers Thanking them for their Service to the Homeland

“You have successful careers behind you. You are the last generation or so of people having made a contribution to the Homeland War. New generations, new people and new times are coming. Nice years are ahead, which you will spend in the privacy of your homes with your families, but you will work as well. The time to give up activity is not here yet”, the President of the Republic and Commander in Chief of the Croatian Armed Forces Zoran Milanović told Croatian Armed Forces retired senior officials at a formal reception he hosted for retired generals and colonels/captains(N) having retired in 2022.

Thanking them on behalf of Croatia and on his behalf for what they gave to Croatia, President Milanović highlighted the reputation and image that the military calling has in Croatian society and people. “Your reputation was built in abnormal conditions. In this, you are a unique generation. You transferred your knowledge – and I believe that in the years still ahead you will transfer your knowledge to those who are coming because the standards that have been set are demanding and quite high. It is up to the state to assure good pensions for you, and to those who are coming and who are already in the system to ensure conditions for development”, President Milanović stated in his address.

Following the completion of honourable and exemplary service in the Croatian Armed Forces, the President of the Republic and Commander in Chief of the Croatian Armed Forces presented officer’s daggers, and the Chief of the General Staff of the Croatian Armed Forces Admiral Robert Hranj presented commendations to generals, colonels/captains(N) who retired in 2022. The daggers and commendations were presented for honourable and exemplary service, dedication to duty, successful cooperation, joint work and personal contribution to the creation and development of the Croatian Armed Forces.

Daggers and commendations were received by Lieutenant General Mate Pađen, Major General Ivica Olujić, Brigadier General Senad Fejzić, Colonel Zdravko Gorupić, Colonel Ivica Čelik, Captain(N) Hidajet Čobo, Captain(N) Željko Kusić, Colonel Darko Brajković, Colonel Emil Ćurković, Captain(N) Boris Kero, Colonel Marinko Lozančić, Colonel Vinko Begović, Captain(N)  Jurica Jerković, Colonel Marijan Podhraški, Colonel Mladen Solić, Colonel Vlado Kovačević, Colonel Mile Skukan, Colonel Mirko Ljevar, Colonel Dražen Levatić, Colonel Zdravko Perajica, Colonel Jasna Peček, Colonel Ivica Bitanga, Colonel Zlatko Ceković, Colonel Dražen Sebastijan and Colonel Šćepo Šutalo.

Lieutenant General Mate Pađen thanked the President of the Republic and Commander in Chief of the Croatian Armed Forces on behalf of the Croatian Armed Forces’ retired senior officials. He noted that the military calling of patriotism, honour and honesty is a big challenge, self-denial and danger, but it is also a sense of pride and of communion of belonging to an institution that is the basis for the security and survival of the Republic of Croatia. “ Each one of us in our careers has experienced much, given much, fought for and defended Croatia in the Homeland War, created the Croatian Army and did everything so that the Croatian Army executes all the tasks given to it and is ready to carry out all future tasks”, Lieutenant General Mate Pađen stated.

“We were among the first when we had to fight and defend the Republic of Croatia in the Homeland War, we formed the Croatian Army, served our Homeland with honour and honesty, with the support of our families. They deserve special thanks. My greatest gratitude goes to my soldiers from the Homeland War and to two of my war commanders, General Pavao Miljavac and Lieutenant General Miljenko Crnjac. Thank you for respecting the members of the Croatian Army.

In addition to the retired employees and members of their families attending the formal reception was the Chief of the General Staff of the Croatian Armed Forces Admiral Robert Hranj and his associates, and the Vicar General of the Military Ordinariate Rev. Marko Medo. In the Office of the President of the Republic were the Commander of the Croatian Army Lieutenant General Boris Šerić, the Commander of Support Command Colonel Mladen Fuzul, the Commander of the Croatian Navy Rear Admiral Ivo Raffanelli, the Commander of the Croatian Air Force and Air Defence Brigadier General Michael Križanec, the Deputy Commander of the Dr. Franjo Tuđman Croatian Defence Academy Brigadier General Blaž Beretin,  the Head of the Personnel Administration of the General Staff of the Croatian Armed Forces Brigadier General Ivan Zelić, the Head of the Communications and IT Systems of the General Staff of the Croatian Armed Forces Brigadier General Ante Tolić, the Commander of the Operations Command of the General Staff of the Croatian Armed Forces Brigadier General Ivan Turkalj, the Head of the Intelligence Direction of the General Staff of the Croatian Armed Forces Brigadier General Mijo Validžić, the Commander of the Special Forces Command Colonel Ivan Miloš, the Deputy Commander of the Special Forces Command Colonel Mate Gudelj and the Aide-de-camp to the Chief of the General Staff Captain Tomislav Vučak.

Alongside President Milanović were the Adviser to the President for Defence and National Security Dragan Lozančić, Special Adviser to the President for Homeland War Veterans Marijan Mareković, the Head of the Military Office in the Cabinet for Defence and National Security Rear Admiral Predrag Stipanović, the Aide-de-camp to the President of the Republic Colonel Vlado Čulina, Staff Officer for Operational Support to the Military Office of the Office of the President Colonel Ivica Kranjčević, and Staff NCO for IT Support to the Military Office of the Cabinet for Defence and National Security NCO Hrvoje Krajačić.

PHOTO: Office of the President of the Republic of Croatia / Ana Marija Katić