President Milanović Confers upon Antun Vujić Grand Order of King Dmitar Zvonimir with Sash and Star

“It is a great honour, pleasure and satisfaction today to confer upon you the high decoration of the Croatian state for all you have done during your long, fruitful, social, creative, scientific and political life for Croatia, for the development of Croatian democracy and culture, and your activities in the cultural and social institutions of the state”, the President of the Republic Zoran Milanović stated upon presenting the Grand Order of King Dmitar Zvonimir with Sash and Star to Dr. Antun Vujić.

President Milanović decorated Dr. Antun Vujić for his outstanding contribution to culture and his longstanding untiring work in culture, lexicography and politics entirely dedicated to the development of an open society. During the presentation ceremony in the Office of the President, he indicated that “all I have seen and all we have seen deeply convince me that this decoration has been merited and in some way long overdue”.

In the presence of his family, friends and associates, Dr. Antun Vujić thanked President Milanović for the decoration, and said that he has lately reproached himself for not doing enough. “Our generation is leaving, we are witnesses of an era when our state has democratized, an era that succeeded the Croatian Spring, an era of retaliation against all of that, followed by a fight for an independent Croatia, and finally building the Croatian society”, Dr. Vujić stated.

“I am aware you are doing your best at this present time to keep Croatia out of the maelstrom of events, and I think you have the support of many. The decoration you conferred upon me comes as a huge recognition”, he noted.

Alongside President Milanović at the presentation ceremony in the Office of the President of the Republic were the Head of the Office of the President of the Republic Orsat Miljenić, the Adviser to the President for Human Rights and Civil Society Melita Mulić, the Special Adviser to the President for the Economy Velibor Mačkić, the Special Adviser to the President for Culture Zdravko Zima, and the Assistant Head of the Cabinet of the President of the Republic Goran Grobotek.

PHOTO: Office of the President of the Republic of Croatia / Dario Andrišek, Marko Beljan