President Milanović Meets with Highest Croatian Armed Forces Commanders
The President of the Republic and Commander in Chief of the Croatian Armed Forces Zoran Milanović met today in the “Eugen Kvaternik” military training ground in Slunj with the highest CAF commanders: the Chief of the General Staff of the CAF Admiral Robert Hranj and his closest associates as well as commanders and deputy commanders of the various branches of the CAF.
The meeting addressed the overall situation in the Armed Forces and all aspects of its activity: readiness, army staffing, training, state of the military equipment and ordnance. Given the complex security conditions in which the CAF operates, the President of the Republic expects the General Staff and all branch commanders – based on their experience and military knowledge – to examine and define the best direction for the further development and activity of the Armed Forces.
President Milanović informed the CAF commanders of the conclusions from the military domain of the recent NATO Summit including accepted plans for defence expenditure. In this context, there was discussion on guidelines for the Alliance’s strategic activity planning for collective defence emphasising that the capability of the army needed for the defence of Croatia must always come first.
There was also talk of the working conditions of Armed Forces members thereby emphasising that better conditions must be assured for the daily activity and training of Croatian troops. The President of the Republic expects systematic planning and progress in carrying out training from the General Staff and the branch commanders, but also constant care for the working conditions, equipment, security and health of Croatian troops.
Attending the meeting in addition to the Chief of the General Staff Admiral Robert Hranj, were: the Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the CAF Lieutenant General Siniša Jurković, the Commander of the Croatian Army Lieutenant General Boris Šerić, the Commander of the Croatian Navy Rear Admiral Ivo Raffanelli, the Commander of Support Command Lieutenant General Mladen Fuzul, the Assistant Head of the GS of the CAF for Healthcare Major General Boris Zdilar, the Deputy Commander – Chief of the Staff of the Croatian Army Major General Tihomir Kundid, the Deputy Commander of the “Dr. Franjo Tuđman” Croatian Defence Academy Brigadier General Blaž Beretin, the Commander of the Operations Command of the General Staff of the CAF Brigadier General Ivan Turkalj, the Chief of the Staff – Deputy Commander of the Croatian Navy Commodore Damir Dojkić, the Deputy Commander of Support Command Brigadier General Ivan Raos, the Commander of the Special Forces Command Colonel Ivan Miloš, the Chief of the Staff – Deputy Commander of the Croatian Air Force Colonel Marinko Galović, the Head of the Cabinet of the Chief of the General Staff Colonel Jozo Matković and the first NCO of the CAF Sergeant Major Dražen Klanjec.
Along President Milanović were the Head of the Office of the President of the Republic Orsat Miljenić, the Adviser to the President for Defence Ivica Olujić, and the Head of the Military Office of the Cabinet for Defence and National Security of the Office of the President Rear Admiral Predrag Stipanović.
PHOTO: Office of the President of the Republic of Croatia / Ana Marija Katić