President Milanović Awards Honorary Rank of Brigadier General Posthumously to Four Croatian Defenders – Ivan Čanić, Stjepan Grgac, Predrag Matanović and Predrag Matić
The President of the Republic and Commander in chief of the Croatian Armed Forces Zoran Milanović awarded decorations and honorary ranks to Croatian Homeland War defenders at a reception held today in the Office of the President of the Republic of Croatia.
The honorary rank of brigadier general is awarded posthumously to four colonels: Ivan Čanić, Stjepan Grgac, Predrag Matanović and Predrag Matić; the decorations are presented to Croatian defenders, former members of the 2nd Croatian Army Guards Brigade “Gromovi“ (Thunder), 163rd Croatian Army Brigade Dubrovnik and the Defense Command of the Municipality of Dubrovnik in 1991-92 as well as to two Croatian defenders for service in the Homeland War.
“I congratulate and thank all those present for their contribution, and those who are not present, we will remember. This is the only way not to forget, to keep repeating that the country was defended by a small number of brave people. Over the years, my impression and my experience are that this sense of debt of honour does not diminish, but rather strengthens”, President Milanović stated today during the presentation of decorations and honorary ranks.
“This ceremony today is just a gesture showing that we also remember because the generation of that small number of brave and good people is getting old and soon new ones will come. I hope and believe that they will not have the same burdens, dilemmas and obligations you had in the early nineties”, the President said.
He added that he surely made some mistakes or omissions in the selection of the highest honours in the past five years and that someone will rectify it one day. “Posthumous honours and recognitions and promotions are meaningful to those who continue – family members, children – as a token of a debt of honour to the people who created Croatia”, President Milanović said, adding that there is not one single country in Europe that in the past 35 years had to go through that kind of torment, trouble, war, aggression and casualties.
The honorary rank of brigadier general is awarded posthumously to Colonel Ivan Čanić, which is accepted by his son Ivan Čanić; to Colonel Stjepan Grgac, which is accepted by his son Goran Grgac; to Colonel Predrag Matanović, which is accepted by his son Leonardo Matanović, and to Colonel Predrag Matić, which is accepted by his spouse Svetlana Patković.
On the occasion of Dubrovnik Defenders’ Day, the Order of Nikola Šubić Zrinski, for the demonstrated prowess of its members in the Homeland War, is awarded to the 163rd Croatian Army Brigade Dubrovnik. The decoration is accepted by the first commander of the 163rd Croatian Army Brigade Dubrovnik Ivan Varenina and the commander of the Ist Battalion of the 163rd Brigade Dubrovnik Eduard Čengija.
Siniša Vuković is awarded the Order of Nikola Šubić Zrinski, for an act of valour in the Homeland War.
On the occasion of Dubrovnik Defenders’ Day, the Order of Ban Jelačić, for overall contribution to the sovereignty of the Republic of Croatia and for exceptional command of the defense of the city of Dubrovnik is awarded to the Defense Command of the Municipality of Dubrovnik in 1991-92. The decoration is accepted by the commander of the Defense Command of the Municipality of Dubrovnik in 1991-92 Ivo Šimunović and the head of the Medical Services of the Defense Command of the Municipality of Dubrovnik in 1991-92 Vicko Mihaljević.
The Order of the Croatian Cross, for being seriously wounded in the Homeland War, is awarded to: Branko Čadonić, Stjepan Vučilovski and Anđelko Kralj. The Order of the Croatian Trefoil, for outstanding service to the Republic of Croatia in the Homeland War, is awarded to: Milančo Makaronov, Stjepan Probić, Ivan Martišković, Stjepan Jambrek, Mijat Josipović, Nikola Rakarić, Boško Bijelić, Željko Kardaš, Jožek Križanec, Josip Radošević, Milan Sarač and Zlatko Ceković.
The Order of the Croatian Interlace, for extraordinary contribution to the development and standing of the Republic of Croatia and the well-being of its citizens is awarded to: Zdravko Curman, Mladen Šeperić-Grdiša, Mirko Buzina, Marijan Pernjek, Josip Mezdjić and rev. Jerolim Lenkić. The Homeland War Memorial Medal, for participation in the Homeland War is awarded to Joško Tramontana.
The commander of the Defense Command of the Municipality of Dubrovnik in 1991-92, Ivo Šimunović spoke on behalf of the decorated. He thanked President Milanović for the decorations and honorary ranks, and said that Dubrovnik and Vukovar and other parts of Croatia contributed to the same goal “for the independent state of Croatia, which was created thanks to all of us”. He added that he will donate the decorations to the Museum of the Homeland War on Srđ mountain in Dubrovnik, and invited the President of the Republic to attend the event in one of the first museums of the Homeland War.
Attending the decorations and honorary ranks presentation ceremony for Croatian Homeland War defenders, in addition to the families and friends of the decorated, were the mayor of the city of Gospić Darko Milinović, the president of the Association of War Veterans of the 9th Guards Brigade Antonijo Šebalj, members of the 163rd Brigade Dubrovnik Vicko Mihaljević, Tonči Bačić, Ivan Varenina, Krešimir Klarić, Đuro Lubura, Ivica Sentić, Željko Petrović, Đuro Šabadin, Josip Sokol and Eduard Čengija; the president of the Association of War Veterans of the 2nd Guards Brigade “Gromovi“ Nenad Bužanić, the vice-president of the Association of War Veterans of the 2nd Guards Brigade “Gromovi“ Dubravko Petrović, and the honorary president of the Association of War Veterans of the 2nd Guards Brigade “Gromovi“ Ivan Krupec.
Alongside President Milanović were the Chief of the General Staff of the Croatian Armed Forces Lieutenant Colonel Tihomir Kundid, the Head of the Office of the President Orsat Miljenić, the Special Adviser to the President for Homeland War Veterans Marijan Mareković, the Adviser to the President for Defense Ivica Olujić, the Adviser to the President for National Security Dragan Lozančić, the Adviser to the President for Foreign and European Policy Neven Pelicarić, the Adviser to the President for Human Rights and Civil Society Melita Mulić, the Adviser to the President for Education Jadranka Žarković, the Secretary-General of the Office of the President Dinko Suton, Special Adviser to the President for Culture Zdravko Zima, the Assistant Head of the Cabinet of the President Goran Grobotek, the Commissioner of the President for Sports Tomislav Paškvalin, the Head of the Military Office in the Cabinet for Defense and National Security Brigadier General Ivica Kranjčević and the Aide de camp to the President of the Republic and the Commander in chief of the Croatian Armed Forces Colonel Vlado Čulina.
PHOTO: Office of the President of the Republic of Croatia / Marko Beljan, Tomislav Bušljeta