President Milanović: The Croatian Army is the people’s army; its needs should be discussed publicly and sensibly with a focus on implementation
Tonight, the President of the Republic Zoran Milanović, Commander in Chief of the Croatian Armed Forces, hosted a formal reception in the Office of the President on the occasion of the observance of Victory and Homeland Thanksgiving Day, Croatian Defenders Day, and the 29th anniversary of the Military and Police Operation “Storm.”
The full speech given by the President of the Republic follows:
“Ladies and gentlemen, esteemed commanders, distinguished guests – welcome. I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for coming and to extend my congratulations in advance for Victory and Homeland Thanksgiving Day, and Croatian Defenders Day.
Many years have passed, nearly thirty. Once young men and boys, they are now people who are still going strong, who have not yet reached the end of their lives or careers. They still have years ahead of them during which they will be able to work and testify to the events that transpired, driven by willpower, intelligence – indeed, as mentioned – synergy, political determination, and the desire and resolve to liberate the country.
Today we had the opportunity to witness a similar act, where, although no lives were lost, pride and honour were gained: this was exemplified by the victory of our rowers under incredible circumstances at the Olympics. I take this opportunity to congratulate them from the bottom of my heart for this special victory. May our future victories be just as remarkable – achieved without the need for weapons.
However, if that is not the case, the Croatian Army and all Croatian citizens stand ready to contribute to the defense of the country in their own ways – certainly not in the same manner or with the same strength and merits. Thirty or more years ago, a few good men led the way. Today, as a member of NATO and the European Union, but above all as a modern Croatian state, these alliances and friendships serve as a welcome supplement. I will say no more, as this in itself is significant, but we must continue to consider our own needs and possibilities in an uncertain world.
The Croatian Army is a topic that indeed needs to be discussed in Croatian society because it is not an alienated or distant force like the Yugoslav People’s Army eventually became, if it ever truly was a people’s army. It’s the army of the Croatian people, of the Croatian state, its needs should be discussed publicly, and decisions should be made sensibly and with determination to implement them.
I will touch on one or two topics that are current, not just these days, but are always current. More than fifteen years ago, we decided that we would build a professional army, an exclusively professional army. It is a difficult and challenging task for countries bigger and richer than Croatia, not to mention them. We didn’t thoroughly even start that work, and we certainly didn’t finish it because it is long-term and expensive.
And now, moving in the direction of military training is being considered, or as it is popularly called, military service. As the Commander in Chief, I am willing to consider smart and well-reasoned initiatives from those who propose it in the hope and belief that they are doing it in good faith and know what they are talking about. But that conversation must continue. We cannot give up, without a lot of thought and preparation, on something we have been building for fifteen years, and invest resources and time into getting something that we still do not really know what it is. These are not topics that can be dealt with from election to election, as it suits anyone; these are topics that must be seriously discussed, as is often said, with the profession. Yes, the army is a profession. The army does not make decisions, but it is certainly consulted before any far-reaching decisions are made.
The army needs funds, it needs equipment. All this costs an awful lot, and when it is said and written in the media – and someone is speaking on behalf of the government – that the army needs this, that they will procure that, that work is being done on the procurement of the third or fourth item, then those things should come from the army, proposals and expressed needs, not from politics. And I don’t know about some of these things, these needs, regardless of the fact that I am the Commander in Chief. I am saying all this to remove the taboo on the topic of the army in public; it is a Croatian institution, and we need to openly discuss things that are important to us and in which we are investing for generations in advance.
The Croatian Army must undergo training and exercises all year round. This is where the army – that is, the profession, the General Staff, and Commands – is crucial. As the President of the Republic and Commander in Chief in these five years, I have never, nor has it occurred to me to change the schedule of military exercises. There are very precise annual plans that were not made by me or in the offices of political parties, but by the army. Making decisions overnight to adjust something to this date or that is not good and I won’t allow it.
The Croatian Army will conduct exercises and preparations from Umag to Prevlaka, but it will not do so outside prescribed plans and decisions, outside the chain of command, and especially not a kilometre away from the beaches, on the 1st of August and in the middle of the tourist season. It is an industry on which we unfortunately depend on too much and on which we pin too many of our hopes. These are serious topics, and we must address them seriously and responsibly – I know this sounds very charged and powerful – but as responsible patriots, as people who are accountable for these things.
I will advocate, as always, that the Croatian Army gets the best and the most it can, but without us making that decision – when I say us, I include myself, because I am part of Croatian politics as the Croatian President – and without suggesting to someone what they should buy and from whom. That’s not our job.
These are my thoughts and positions – because a thought without taking a stance in politics means little – which I wanted to share with you and the Croatian public before the coming days – days of pride and glory for the great victories of the Croatian Army that occurred nearly thirty years ago, where a large, initially very small and mighty group of people grew into a respectable and serious army, driven by patriotism, cleverness, and concern for man and every soldier. In the end, through a combination of knowledge, cleverness, cunning, and luck – because there is nothing without luck – the Croatian Army liberated Croatia: a Croatia that we are now building with varying success but with good intentions and sincere efforts.
Once again, I congratulate you for Victory and Homeland Thanksgiving Day, with special gratitude to those to whom we are most grateful, those who liberated Croatia and those who paused somewhere in that effort and whom we lost, but whom we shall never forget.
Faithful to the Homeland!”