President Milanović Attends Croatian Army Guards Mechanized Brigade 15th Anniversary Ceremony in Knin: The army’s chief task is to defend Croatia’s territory and population
The President of the Republic and Commander in Chief of the Croatian Armed Forces Zoran Milanović visited the town of Knin, where he attended a ceremony marking the 15th anniversary of the formation of the Croatian Army Guards Mechanized Brigade.
President Milanović started his address at the ceremony by recollecting Knin Liberation Day, which took place in 1995, and emphasizing that with this day came unprecedented moments of joy and satisfaction to every Croatian patriot. “In the history of peoples and nations, there are days and moments that are a uniting factor. Everyone knows what they were doing in such moments and where they were. Knin Liberation Day of 1995 is probably the only such day, of which there aren’t many. For our nation, it is probably the only such day and it is unique. That day was made possible by the brilliant war victories of your predecessors, your comrades of that time. As long as you and this generation exist, they will not be forgotten and covered by the veil of oblivion. They brought freedom to Croatia, but also that incredible and unprecedented, true joy, without which there is no life, descendants, future, man, family or nation,” said President Milanović.
“Your commander said that you will strive to do your best. I support this fully, especially when it comes to the elite units of the Croatian Army. Strive for the best! Don’t forget that your only and chief task is to defend Croatia’s borders and territory. What makes every country a country is its territory as determined by its borders, its population and its democratically elected government of the people, of the representatives of the people. In the political and constitutional-legal sense, it is a ‘holy trinity’ that is to be defended,” the President told those present.
“Everything else comes afterwards – international alliances in which you should be a loyal, honest and faithful ally to those to whom you swore to be an ally. We should also be in solidarity with countries such as Ukraine, which was attacked by Russia and which deserves that solidarity, both humanly and politically. It has it from us and it will continue to have it. All your efforts and all our efforts and all my efforts as President and Commander in Chief are aimed at training you for just that, in that sense and with that goal. Develop yourselves to be able to deter and, God forbid, in case you must act in defence tomorrow,” the President of the Republic emphasized.
In his address, President Milanović touched on his upcoming visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina on the occasion of the anniversary of the establishment of the Croatian Defence Council (HVO) in Mostar: “You are more than units; you are brothers in arms, just like our brothers, your brothers and comrades from Herzegovina who are lining up in one week. Together with the Croatian Army and under the leadership of the Croatian Army and joint command based on an international agreement signed in Split by President Tuđman and President Izetbegović, you liberated Bosnia and Herzegovina and made it a free country, a country where war finally ended. This is not only forgotten today, but it is very boldly and systematically belittled and Croatia is, as usual, labelled with guilt and responsibility complexes instead of it being given gratitude, and the hope that (war) will not happen again. In a week, I will be in Mostar and I will be at liberty without asking you to convey your greetings to them because we are two countries and we respect what belongs to others and what is different, but in the war we were one. Whoever does not recognize this and does not see it, either sees poorly or does not wish to look.”
President Milanović concluded his address by congratulating Croatian soldiers: “Dear Croatian Guards, Croatian soldiers and the Croatian Army elite – I congratulate you, the glorious, great Croatian units on your Day. May we remain faithful to the Homeland!”
Prior to the anniversary ceremony, the President of the Republic laid a wreath and lit a candle at the monument to the Croatian victory “Oluja 95.” Attending the wreath-laying alongside President Milanović were the Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Croatian Armed Forces Lieutenant General Siniša Jurković, Adviser to the President of the Republic for Defence and National Security Dragan Lozančić, Commander of the Croatian Army Lieutenant General Boris Šerić, Deputy Commander of the Croatian Army Major General Tihomir Kundid, Commander of the Croatian Army Guards Mechanized Brigade Brigadier General Dražen Ressler and Commander of the Croatian Army Guards Armoured Mechanized Brigade Brigadier General Mijo Validžić.
PHOTO: Office of the President of the Republic of Croatia / Anamarija Katić