President Milanović at Send-Off Ceremony of 1st Contingent of Croatian Troops to Hungary
The President of the Republic and Commander in Chief of the Croatian Armed Forces Zoran Milanović attended an official send-off ceremony of the 1st contingent of Croatian troops (HRVCON) participating in NATO’s enhanced vigilance activities in Hungary as part of a Hungarian-led battlegroup.
The 1st Croatian contingent is composed of 60 members of the Croatian Armed Forces (12 officers, 36 NCOs and 12 privates). At the official send-off ceremony, which was held at the 110th Croatian Army Brigade Barracks in Kamensko, President Milanović said the following: “As the Commander in Chief of the Croatian Armed Forces, I can assure you that we will not use you irresponsibly in any situation. There are few of you and your primary, only and constitutional goal is the defense of Croatia and its territory, its people and population, and ultimately the democratically elected state authorities. It is my duty, and our duty as the Croatian state leadership, to make decisions prudently, carefully and thoughtfully. The Decision to deploy members of the Croatian Armed Forces to Hungary is not a Decision that I signed easily and routinely.”
“It is not by chance that you are going to Hungary. It’s a neighbouring country, you’re not far from home,” said President Milanović, adding that an autumn of uncertainty lies ahead. “But I do have a little more optimism than 5, 10 or 20 days ago and it seems to me that the world could be more reasonable and that this horror will end and human lives will be saved. Make us proud, represent Croatia, its flag, its history and tradition. With full faith and hope that this crisis, which we were drawn into and which the world was drawn into by Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, will not last for the next 10 years, I wish you the best of luck and that you do your job properly and professionally,” President Milanović concluded.
Following the Decision on the participation of Croatian Armed Forces in NATO’s enhanced vigilance activities in Hungary, up to 70 members of the Croatian Armed Forces are to be deployed in 2022 and 2023, with the possibility of rotation. By participating in this NATO activity, the battlegroup of the 1st contingent of Croatian troops will further boost its capabilities, increase interoperability with the forces of other member states and contribute to strengthening the collective defense of the North Atlantic Alliance.
Also attending the send-off ceremony of the 1st contingent of Croatian troops to Hungary apart from the President of the Republic and Commander in Chief of the Croatian Armed Forces were the Chief of the General Staff of the Croatian Armed Forces Admiral Robert Hranj, Deputy Commander of the Croatian Army Major General Tihomir Kundid and Commander of Operations Command of the General Staff of the Croatian Armed Forces Brigadier General Ivan Turkalj.
Adviser to the President of the Republic for Defense and National Security Dragan Lozančić and Head of the Military Office Rear Admiral Predrag Stipanović were alongside the President of the Republic and Commander in Chief of the Croatian Armed Forces Zoran Milanović.
PHOTO: Office of the President of the Republic of Croatia / Tomislav Bušljeta