President Milanović in Varaždin: Our duty and moral obligation is not to forget the achievements of the defenders

“Croatia was defended by a very small number of good people, among others the ‘Pumas”, people who joined the war from the very start, defending the country and finally liberating it. Our duty and moral obligation is to keep them from falling into oblivion. The people we are talking about today are giants, real and figurative, on whose shoulders today’s soldiers stand, and, figuratively speaking, all of Croatia”, the President of the Republic and Commander in Chief of the Croatian Armed Forces Zoran Milanović stated at a formal session marking the 30^th anniversary of the formation of the 7^th Guards Brigade “Pumas”.

Referring to the Homeland War and the period of thirty years ago, President Milanović noted that those times were difficult yet different from today, which is more dangerous for the world. “But those times were dangerous for Croatia. Nobody helped, they hindered us or were indifferent. Croatia had to fight for every centimetre of its territory by itself. We have to be clear about these facts in order to be able to carry on, without hating anybody, without taking revenge on anybody, but simply knowing that we alone are credited for our merits, as well as our failures, in the war and in arming the state in the years that followed”, the President noted, confident that the members of this glorious Varaždin brigade would be more or less satisfied with the state of affairs in Croatia today.

In his address President Milanović noted that fifty-two Varaždinians out of a total of ninety-two members of the “Pumas” perished in Bosnia and Herzegovina. He stated: “Croats from Bosnia and Herzegovina are quite aware of this and accept it. We are one people in two states and we respect that other state. Some others should respect it a bit more because Croatia saved their skin, their homes, their bare lives. Unfortunately, it is not so. Nevertheless, we do not wish harm to anybody, we are honest towards everybody, we have no malice, but we are quite aware of what are interests are.

Eternal glory and memory to the people whom we, and after that our daughters and sons, must not allow to fall into oblivion. In fighting against that you are superb, unwavering, persistent and kudos to you. Merry Christmas and a happy and healthy New Year to you and your families, and my wish is for the war to end and that there be no global conflicts among the major ones who bear the greatest responsibility. We are here, small, and small states must seek their interests and be opportunistic. To seek how to protect that small number of lives we have, our property, all that we created, we defended and for which we paid a high price”, President Milanović stated in concluding his address.

Also addressing the gathering besides President Milanović were the President of the Association of Veterans of the 7^th Guards Brigade “Pumas” Robert Puja, the Mayor of Varaždin Neven Bosilj, Varaždin County Prefect Anđelko Stričak, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Croatian Veterans’ Affairs and delegate of the Prime Minister Tomo Medved, and Member of the Croatian Parliament and delegate of the Speaker of the Croatian Parliament Damir Habijan.

PHOTO: Office of the President of the Republic of Croatia / Ana Marija Katić