President Milanović in Split: We must also take care of the Croatian Navy, as it is not and cannot be less important than the Croatian Air Force
“Every country has a sky, but not every country has a sea, and especially not a large sea and a long coastline. Because there are several coastal countries on the Adriatic, but two are large – Italy and Croatia, which has over a thousand kilometres of coastline, even more with the islands. And that is something that needs to be preserved and nurtured, both in a real, material sense and in a spiritual sense,” said the President of the Republic and Commander in Chief of the Croatian Armed Forces, Zoran Milanović, today at the commemoration of the Croatian Navy Day and the 33rd anniversary of the establishment of the Croatian Navy.
“That’s why we need to pay serious attention to that and take care of the Croatian Navy, because it is certainly no less important to us than the Croatian Air Force. It cannot be,” President Milanović emphasized in his address. He reminded the audience that nine years ago, contracts were signed and orders placed for the construction of five Coast Guard ships, which are still pending. “Now it is no longer important who, how, or why it was or wasn’t done. What matters is that it gets done and that the Croatian Navy and Coast Guard receive the five ships, which are part of our identity and are working ships. For our identity, we will one day need a corvette so we can venture into open waters, simply to make the Croatian flag visible. I deeply believe that the Croatian state can afford that – no more, but it can afford that,” said President Milanović.
Furthermore, the President said that we must be aware of who we are and what we have. In this sense, the President of the Republic and Commander in Chief of the Croatian Armed Forces welcomes investment in the Croatian Army, but also calls for planning and a strategic approach to acquisitions and renovations. “It should be known in advance what will be done and when things will be renewed, and not to make purchases without careful and detailed analysis, because that ends up costing more. Defense should be one of the most important priorities,” the President emphasized, adding that it is not crucial whether it is two, three, or one percent of GDP – a standard persistently promoted within NATO – but what is important is what can be bought for that money.
“Whether one grenade costs a thousand dollars or five thousand dollars – it doesn’t really matter, and it doesn’t affect whether you allocate two or seven percent. If prices continue like this, we will end up allocating five percent. And that is why it’s important to develop some production in Croatia. Croatia is not capable of building aircraft carriers, nor does it need them, but it is capable of producing patrol ships, and also of manufacturing ammunition and certain artillery shells. Otherwise, we depend on others,” said President Milanović.
He added that history has taught us and reminds us that we must take care of ourselves and that “others may be our allies, but states and their leaders are guided solely by their own interests.” “The same countries and the same governments will demand one thing from some and tolerate the opposite from others, and that is the adult world,” concluded President Milanović, as he congratulated Croatian sailors on Croatian Navy Day and urged them to protect the Croatian sea and coast.
On the occasion of the observance of the Croatian Navy Day, the President of the Republic decorated, promoted, and commended members of the Croatian Navy. For honourable and exemplary service, the Homeland Gratitude Memorial Medal was awarded to Lieutenant Colonel Miro Kuvačić, Lieutenant Colonel Joško Pavković, Lieutenant Colonel Ante Renić, Lieutenant Colonel Ivan Krivić, Master Sergeant Kazimir Šuper, Master Sergeant Željko Ćukušić, Sergeant First Class Petar Babić, Private First Class Mate Lovrić, Private Second Class Renato Perojević, civil servants Dražen Lulić and Nikola Marović, and employee Mate Bečko.
The President of the Republic also issued a Decision on the promotion of active male and female officers of the Croatian Navy. Lieutenant Commander Davor Dilber and Lieutenant Commander Stjepan Giljević were promoted to the rank of Commander, and Captain Suzana Kutleša was promoted to the rank of Major in the Quartermaster Service. Colonel Ivica Suman received a commendation from the Commander in Chief for above-average results in the achievement of set assignments.
The ceremonial marking of the Croatian Navy Day and the 33rd anniversary of the establishment of the Croatian Navy began in Kaštela Bay, where the President of the Republic and Commander in Chief of the Croatian Armed Forces laid a laurel wreath at sea in memory of all fallen Croatian sailors. The ceremonial line-up of Croatian Navy members and the central ceremony took place at the “Admiral flote Sveto Letica-Barba” Barracks. In addition to President Milanović, Commodore Damir Dojkić, Commander of the Croatian Navy, and Drago Matanović, State Secretary in the Ministry of Defense and delegate of the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense, spoke at the ceremony.
President Milanović was accompanied by Ivica Olujić, Adviser to the President of the Republic for Defense, and Colonel Vlado Čulina, Aide-de-Camp to the President of the Republic.
PHOTO: Office of the President of the Republic of Croatia / Tomislav Bušljeta