President Milanović in Vrlika: In the Homeland War the people were kept safe, this should be a lesson for Croatian politics even today
“Our country was defended by a very small number of people. Croatia defended itself voluntarily, it was defended by those who wanted, knew and could, who did not spare themselves”, said the President of the Republic and Commander in Chief of the Croatian Armed Forces Zoran Milanović today in Vrlika at a ceremony marking the 30th anniversary of the largest infantry battle of the Homeland War in Cetinjska Krajina region – the defence of Veli Vrh.
Operation “Veli Vrh” on the Svilaja mountain range is the largest infantry battle of the Homeland War in Cetinjska Krajina. When a fierce attack by Serbian forces began on 8 June 1993 on Veli vrh, there were 16 defenders from the Vrlika company. Of the 16 defenders one was killed and 10 were wounded. Despite the fierce attack, Veli Vrh was defended thanks to the defenders of Veli Vrh and their fellow combatants from the 126th Brigade who came to their rescue.
In his address, President Milanović praised Croatia’s defence strategy during the Homeland War. “One had to be clever at the beginning and throughout the entire war to keep the people safe. Losses of the Croatian Army in the entire war and in liberating attacks and operations were minor and were a result of the intelligence and organization of those who conducted the war including the political leadership. The people were kept safe”, said the President, underlining that this should be a lesson for Croatian politics as a whole.
“To be aware of where our place is among the nations and in the world in which we live. And that means to be ourselves, aware of ourselves in defending what is ours, adamant and defiant if necessary, not to provoke, not to resolve world problems when nobody asks you to, problems you do not understand and did not cause. To be oriented towards ourselves and mind our own business. Small nations, if they want to be successful and want to survive, cannot do otherwise”, explained President Milanović.
On the occasion of marking the 30th anniversary of the defence of Veli Vrh, the President of the Republic bestowed the Order of Nikola Šubić Zrinski upon 16th Home Guard Regiment of Sinj for a deed of valour displayed by its members in the Homeland War.
“It is a special honour for me and my debt of honour to you to present this decoration named after a great Croat who defended Croatia and died for Croatia, who is one of those thanks to whom the Croatian name is remembered. The Bribirski dukes, the Šubić family, the Zrinski family, the Frankopan family, were it not for those great Croatian men, who knows what would have been the destiny of the Croatian name. The Order of Nikola Šubić Zrinski is a high decoration for your merit and your contribution carries weight”, President Milanović stated in presenting the decoration to the president of the 16th Home Guard Regiment of Sinj Association Branko Kosorčić and to the war commander of the 16th Home Guard Regiment of Sinj Ivan Totić.
In Vrlika the President of the Republic and Commander in Chief of the Croatian Armed Forces laid a wreath and lit a candle in memory of all the fallen Croatian defenders at the monument to the fallen Croatian defenders of the Homeland War in Dr. Franje Tuđman Square. Alongside President Milanović was the Special Adviser to the President for Homeland War Veterans Marijan Mareković.
PHOTO: Office of the President of the Republic of Croatia / Dario Andrišek