President Milanović in Gospić: The primary task of the Croatian Army is to defend the Homeland

“As far as peace and security are concerned, in Croatia it is at least as imagined by those who defended it in 1991, but it is not like that in the world. The task of the Croatian Army as it was then, is first and foremost to defend the Croatian Homeland, if need be. This is stipulated by the Croatian Constitution and not just that, but it is a matter of wisdom and common sense”, the President of the Republic and Commander in chief of the Croatian Armed Forces stated today in Gospić where he attended the 32^nd anniversary of the formation of the 9^th Guards Brigade “Vukovi” (Wolves) and the Day of the Motorized Battalion “Vukovi” of the Guards Mechanized Brigade “Vukovi”.

Speaking about the beginnings of the Homeland War in 1991 and the situation in Europe and the world at that time, President Milanović reminded that Croatia had to defend itself “while Europe was joyous and happy thanks to the collapse of communist regimes in the East, with the wind of freedom that blew across Europe at that time”. “Only Croatia had to carry its cross and do penance to defend its land with no one’s help and for the most courageous among us to lay down their lives”, the President noted.

He repeated that no one helped Croatia then, although today we often hear stories that many helped us in different ways. “No one helped us, Croatia defended itself only with its small forces. And all that together, as time goes on and the years pass, it looks more and more unbelievable. In that real time, it seemed like something that was happening too fast to comprehend, especially to those who personally took part in it with their hands and blood. But a small number of brave people managed to achieve this and defend the country”, President Milanović said, adding that today the situation in Croatia is much better, more stable and peaceful, and incomparable to the one in 1991.

“However, the surroundings and the world that was joyful in 1991, full of optimism, naivety, desire and hope for a better and freer, smarter world seemed to have disappeared and today the situation is reversed”, the President said and concluded: “When the great fight, little ones don’t go under the table. The little ones move away from that table, they observe and never lose sight, they don’t lose sight of that table, but they mind their own business and defend their interests. Croatia as a member of the European Union, Croatia as a member of NATO – was and will be, but above all Croatia, which has a sacred constitutional and supra-constitutional task to take care of its people, their well-being and, above all, their security”.

Ahead of the ceremony marking the anniversary of the formation and the presentation of berets to the members of the Motorized Battalion “Vukovi” (Wolves) of the Guards Mechanized Brigade, President Milanović laid a wreath and lit a candle at the Memorial to the fallen, missing and deceased members of the 9^th Guards Brigade “Vukovi”. Attending the wreath-laying ceremony alongside President Milanović were the Chief of the General Staff of the Croatian Armed Forces Lieutenant General Tihomir Kundid, the Commander of the Croatian Army Major General Blaž Beretin, the Commander of the Guards Mechanized Brigade Colonel Mirko Stošić, the Commander of the Motorized Battalion “Vukovi” Lieutenant Colonel Antonio Tokić and the Special Adviser to the President for Homeland War Veterans Marijan Mareković.

PHOTO: Office of the President of the Republic of Croatia / Marko Beljan