President Milanović Decorates Deserving Individuals, Companies and Associations from Culture, Business, Science and Sports

The President of the Republic Zoran Milanović presented at a ceremony held today in the Office of the President of the Republic decorations to deserving individuals, companies and associations from culture, business, science and sports.

In his address to the decorated, President Milanović pointed out that culture, business, science and sports are four significant domains in our society and state as a whole. He added that, at the proposal of associations, individuals and his advisers in the Office of the President of the Republic, he issued a decision to present decorations to that significant and important group of people, citizens of Croatia. “These are people who made a significant contribution to these four domains through their lives and work, and this is a minimum that the Croatian state and I, as president, can bestow upon you”, President Milanović noted.

“I think that nobody will ever mention or bring these decorations into question. These are respectable people, citizens of communities that are different or similar by political affiliation, and I was not guided by that. I was guided by proposals, and my personal judgement and reasoning that these are people who deserve decorations for their work and accomplishments”, President Milanović concluded, thanking the laureates for their contribution and for everything they have given and will give to Croatia.

President Milanović bestows the Order of the Croatian Star with Effigy of Marko Marulić upon Velimir Visković for outstanding contribution to the development of literary criticism and the study and promotion of recent Croatian literature, especially the oeuvre of Krleža and the turning points of his biography, and upon Zvonko Maković for extraordinary contribution to Croatian cultural creativity with his poetic oeuvre, essays and especially the study of Croatian history of art, and the promotion of contemporary fine arts. For outstanding contribution to the promotion of Croatian fine arts in the field of tapestry, costume design, scenography and sculpture, artists of a wide spectrum and worldwide reputation whose works are in numerous relevant collections and are included in the holdings of major museums around the world, President Milanović bestows the Order of the Croatian Star with Effigy of Marko upon Jagoda Buić-Wuttke posthumously, and Milvija Plazibat accepts the decoration.

Moreover, Milan Kranjčević is presented the Order of the Croatian Star with Effigy of Marko Marulić for exceptional service in the preservation of intangible cultural heritage in Croatia, and extraordinary contribution to the affirmation and promotion of the Chakavian language of the area of the Gacka River; Branko Uvodić for outstanding service and extraordinary contribution to the promotion and preservation of Croatian traditional, customary and folklore cultural heritage in the country and abroad; Jean de Breyne poet, photographer, art critic and publisher, for extraordinary contribution to the recognition and promotion of Croatian culture and arts in the French Republic, and Ivan Repušić, chief conductor of the Munich Radio Orchestra, for exceptional achievements in culture and the promotion of Croatian culture at home and abroad.

Director of “Ericsson Nikola Tesla” company, Gordana Kovačević, is awarded the Order of the Croatian Star with Effigy of Blaž Lorković, for outstanding contribution and extraordinary service to the economy; member of the Management Board of “Poslovna Inteligencija” company Anita Cvetić Oreščani, for outstanding contribution and extraordinary service to the economy; the president of the Management Board of “Tehnomont” company Gordana Deranja, for outstanding contribution and extraordinary service to the economy, and editor-in-chief of “Lider Media” Miodrag Šajatović, for outstanding contribution and extraordinary service to the economy.

President Milanović bestows upon Ivica Pivačić the Order of the Croatian Star with Effigy of Nikola Tesla, for extraordinary merit in the promotion and development of technical culture, long-term professional work in the field of innovation at home and abroad.

The Order of the Croatian Star with Effigy of Franjo Bučar is bestowed upon alpinist and mountaineer Darija Bostjančić, for extraordinary contribution to the development and promotion of Croatian mountaineering and for achieving top results in alpinism and sport climbing in the world; alpinist and mountaineer Iris Bostjančić, for extraordinary contribution to the development and promotion of Croatian mountaineering and achieving top results in alpinism and sport climbing in the world; ultramarathon Zdravko Jadrijev, for extraordinary contribution to the development and promotion of Croatian sports and achieving top results at national and international sports competitions in ultramarathon; Robert Seligman for extraordinary contribution to the development and promotion of Croatian sports and achieving top results at national and international sports competitions in gymnastics; volleyball player and president of the Association of Veteran Athletes and Recreational Athletes Marija Anzulović, for extraordinary contribution to the development of Croatian sports and achieving outstanding sports results at national and international competitions; table tennis player Branka Batinić, for extraordinary contribution to the development of Croatian sports and outstanding sports results achieved at national and international competitions; basketball player Danira Bilić, for extraordinary contribution to the development of Croatian sports and achieving outstanding sports results at national and international competitions; handball player and vice-president of the Association of Veteran Athletes and Recreational Athletes Klaudija Bubalo, for extraordinary contribution to the development of Croatian sports and achieving outstanding sports results at national and international competitions; karate player Ana-Marija Bujas Čelan, for extraordinary contribution to the development of Croatian sports and top sports results achieved at national and international competitions; Olympian and gymnast Erna Hawelka Rađenović, for extraordinary contribution to the development of Croatian sports and achieving outstanding sports results at national and international competitions; volleyball player associate Vladimir Janković for extraordinary contribution to the development of Croatian sports and achieving outstanding sports results at national and international competitions; the president of the Sports Association of the City of Zagreb, Vjekoslav Šafranić, for extraordinary contribution to the development of Croatian sports and achieving outstanding sports results at national and international competitions; Olympian and former water polo player Zlatko Šimenc, for extraordinary contribution to the development of Croatian sports and achieving top sports results at national and international competitions, and volleyball expert and coach Zina Urlić, for extraordinary contribution to the development of Croatian sports and results achieved at national and international volleyball competitions as a top athlete and coach.

Among Croatian players, Petar Ćurić is honoured for exceptional merit in the promotion of Croatian culture and international cultural cooperation, and extraordinary contribution to the music-educational project of the Croatian Flute Academy at home and abroad; member of the Editorial Board of Croatian Mountaineers, Darko Grundler, for exceptional service in the development of Croatian mountaineering, especially with his engagement in the publishing and digitalization of professional content of the Croatian Mountaineering Association; president of the Supervisory Board of the Croatian Mountaineering Association Hrvoje Kraljević, for exceptional merit in the work and activities of the Croatian Mountaineering Association, and extraordinary contribution to the development and strengthening of the Croatian Mountain Rescue Service; Vince Hergovich, for exceptional contribution to the promotion of Croatian culture and language, and the preservation of Croatian traditions in Hungary; Daruvar historian and professor Vjenceslav Herout, for extraordinary merit in research and popularization of the native history of the area of ​​Daruvar and Grubišno Polje and the Czech minority in the Republic of Croatia; István Krizmanich, for exceptional merit and extraordinary contribution to preserving the identity, culture, language and customs of Croats in Hungary and Slovenian director, actor and director of the Mini Theatre, Robert Waltl, for extraordinary contribution to promoting Croatian culture and strengthening Croatian-Slovenian cultural ties.

On the occasion of 140 years of operation of the largest and oldest insurance company in the Republic of Croatia, President Milanović awards the Charter of the Republic of Croatia to “Croatia Osiguranje” company, which is accepted by the President of the Management Board, Davor Tomašković. Likewise, the Charter of the Republic of Croatia is awarded to the Croatian Music Society “Zrinski” of Donja Kaštela, for extraordinary contribution to the preservation of customs, traditions and cultural heritage in more than 170 years of amateur cultural and artistic activity, which is accepted by member of the Management Board, Marijo Čagalj.

Branko Uvodić thanked President Milanović for the decorations on behalf of the laureates, who said that in his 50-year career he had spoken in front of many audiences and at larger gatherings, but that this address is particularly emotional for him. “When I listen to all the laureates, I see that I have worked with and met many of them. I know how much love, passion, effort and sacrifice was made by them and their families for everything they gave to the Republic of Croatia in sports, culture, arts and business activities”, said Mr. Uvodić.

Regarding the decoration he received, he said it is extraordinary because it is awarded by the Republic of Croatia from the hands of the Croatian president. “We will proudly show the decorations to everyone who knows what it means to invest in our beautiful Homeland”, he concluded, and after thanking President Milanović for the decorations, he congratulated all the laureates and said: “We will continue as long as our health and age allow us”.

PHOTO: Office of the President of the Republic of Croatia / Tomislav Bušljeta, Marko Beljan