President Milanović tells defenders: You won the victory on your own, you don’t owe anyone anything

“You won the victory on your own and you don’t owe anyone anything. This is not mean that you have to be haughty or arrogant towards others, but to be self-aware. You won the victory on your own and you don’t owe anyone anything. I consider this to be one of the most important Croatian qualities, something we must preserve, we must build on; not arrogance, but self-awareness of the uniqueness and strength of a small people that found itself in impossible conditions”, the President of the Republic Zoran Milanović told Croatian defenders in Požega on the 33^rd anniversary of the foundation of the 123^rd Croatian Army Brigade.

Talking about current world affairs, President Milanović pointed out the fact that more and more young people in Croatia wish to voluntarily serve in the military, reminding that 300 volunteer recruits took an oath on Friday in Požega.

“These young men and women represent a symbol of faith in the system, faith in the Croatian Army and the security it provides for the preservation of Croatian independence and territorial integrity. It is important to understand that our present security situation differs from the time of the Homeland War, but the experiences of that period remain an indelible lesson”, the President of the Republic noted.

President Milanović referred to the historical role of the 123^rd Brigade, its foundation from the very ranks of the people and the great courage of individuals who made an invaluable contribution to the defence of the Homeland, including General Miljenko Crnjac. He underlined that Croatian defenders passed through incredible trials and tribulations that other generations in Europe cannot fully understand, adding that “it does not give us the right to give lessons to anyone, to be complacent, to impose ourselves as some kind of authority, but for our own sake, to be aware that our path was difficult, but also unique“.

“Our struggle for freedom and independence was unique, and no one helped us during those difficult times, except for Germany and of course the Vatican. Our responsibility at present is to pass on those lessons to new generations, not with the aim of elevating ourselves above others, but to respect what we went through”, President Milanović highlighted.

Ahead of the ceremony, President Milanović lit a candle and laid a wreath at the Memorial to the fallen defenders of the 123^rd Croatian Army Brigade in Požega.

This Croatian Army Brigade was formed at the end of October 1991 and participated in Operation “Orkan ’91” thus liberating a number of villages on Psunj mountain, including Kamensko and Bučje. During this operation, 57 members of the Brigade were killed and 402 were wounded.

Alongside President Milanović was the Special Adviser to the President of the Republic for Homeland War Veterans Marijan Mareković.

PHOTO: Office of the President of the Republic of Croatia / Filip Glas