President Milanović at Send-Off Ceremony of 38th Contingent of Croatian Troops Participating in NATO-led KFOR Mission in the Republic of Kosovo
The President of the Republic and Commander in Chief of the Croatian Armed Forces Zoran Milanović attended today in Varaždin an official send-off ceremony of the 38th contingent of Croatian troops (HRVCON) participating in the NATO-led KFOR mission in the Republic of Kosovo.
“You are professionals and I have no instructions for you, you know everything. You are going there to represent Croatia, your homeland, the Croatian Army – one of only a few armies whose members, your predecessors, fought a real war. That was a long time ago, but unfortunately, to some extent, we still live under its mark, force and consequences – less in Croatia, somewhat more in the neighbourhood,” President Milanović told the Croatian soldiers at the ceremony held in the 7th Guards Brigade “Pumas” Barracks.
The President of the Republic told them that they are going to Kosovo to support an independent state within the frame of an international organization which Croatia is part of. “To give support to your colleagues, colleagues-in-arms. You are going to develop yourselves professionally, to work on yourselves, on your knowledge, abilities, agility, intelligence, experience – everything that a soldier cannot do without if he is not given the opportunity,” said President Milanović. He pointed out that we should do everything – not just us, but also those who are larger and stronger than us – so that there is no war and global conflict and, as the President put it, “so that humanity does not slide down the path of no return.”
“But that’s not your mission. Come back healthy, better, more experienced, smarter, but still just as young, strong and agile, ready for new tasks. We – and above all your families and you personally – expect that from you,” President Milanović concluded.
Attending the send-off of the 38th contingent of Croatian troops participating in the NATO-led KFOR mission, 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, Commander of the Croatian Army Lieutenant General Boris Šerić, Commander of the Operations Command of the General Staff of the Croatian Armed Forces Brigadier General Ivan Turkalj, Deputy Commander of the Guards Armoured-Mechanized Brigade of the Croatian Army Colonel Davor Josip Babić and Commander of the 2nd Mechanized Battalion “Pumas” Major Krunoslav Slavinec.
Adviser to the President of the Republic for Defense and National Security Dragan Lozančić, Special Adviser to the President of the Republic for Homeland War Veterans Marijan Mareković, Head of the Military Office in the Cabinet for Defense and National Security in the Office of the President Rear Admiral Predrag Stipanović and Aide-de-Camp to the President of the Republic Colonel Vlado Čulina were alongside President Milanović.
PHOTO: Office of the President of the Republic of Croatia / Tomislav Bušljeta