President Milanović Pays Homage to Josip Jović, First Croatian Defender Killed in Homeland War
The President of the Republic and Commander in Chief of the Croatian Armed Forces Zoran Milanović attended today the 32nd anniversary of operation “Plitvice“ in commemoration of policeman Josip Jović, the first Croatian defender killed in the Homeland War.
President Milanović laid a wreath and lit a candle at the Josip Jović memorial at Plitvice Lakes. Josip Jović was killed on Easter day 31 March 1991, the first casualty in the Homeland War.
Alongside the President of the Republic at the commemoration and wreath-laying ceremony were the Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Croatian Armed Forces Siniša Jurković, retired member of the Anti-terrorist Unit Lučko (ATJ) Slavko Butorac, the Special Adviser to the President of the Republic for Homeland War Veterans Marijan Mareković, and the Adviser to the President of the Republic for Defense Ivica Olujić.
Participating in the wreath-laying and candle-lighting ceremony at the memorial to the first victim of the Homeland War in addition to President Milanović were members of the family of Josip Jović, members of associations from the Homeland War: “Udruga ratnih pripadnika ATJ Lučko ’90”, “Udruga Tigar 90-91 Rakitje”, “Udruga PJP Kumrovec 90”, “Udruga specijalne policije iz Domovinskog rata RH” and “Udruga Prvi hrvatski redarstvenik”, representatives of the Croatian Parliament, the Government of the Republic of Croatia, Lika-Senj and Split-Dalmatia County, Municipality of Plitvice Lakes and Cista Provo, the Croatian Generals Association as well as fellow combatants of Josip Jović.
During the commemoration twenty-three new members of ATJ Lučko received Special Police ensigns.
PHOTO: Office of the President of the Republic of Croatia / Dario Andrišek