President Milanović Receives Representatives of Association of Resistance Organizers of Croatian Defence Council in Bosnia and Herzegovina
The President of the Republic Zoran Milanović met today with representatives of the Association of Resistance Organizers of the Croatian Defence Council (HVO) in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Association president and wartime mayor of Mostar Jadran Topić, the first commander of the defence of Mostar Petar Zelenika and HVO Grude member Vinko Zorić acquainted President Milanović with their Association’s activities.
The organization of the resistance and the foundation of the HVO on the eve and during the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina were also discussed at the meeting. The Croatian Defence Council was founded on 8 April 1992, which is also marked as the HVO’s Foundation date. After the signing of the Dayton Agreement, the HVO was incorporated into the Army of Bosnia and Herzegovina as the Croatian component, and after a 2005 defence reform, it was reorganized into the 1st Infantry (Guard) Regiment, one of three regiments in the framework of the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Representatives of the Association informed President Milanović of preparations for the celebration of HVO Day expected to be held in April in Mostar.
Attending the meeting were retired Lieutenant Colonel of the Croatian Army and Croatian Defence Council Ljubo Ćesić Rojs, and member of the Ministry of the Interior of the Croatian community of Herceg-Bosna “Hrvatska zajednica Herceg-Bosna” Gordan Miličević. Alongside President Milanović was the Special Adviser to the President for Homeland War Veterans Marijan Mareković.
FOTO: Ured predsjednika Republike Hrvatske / Marko Beljan