President Milanović tells Croats in Bosnia and Herzegovina: We are grateful for what you gave Croatia, it shall never be forgotten
The President of the Republic spent a working day in Bosnia and Herzegovina today where he attended a ceremony marking the 29th anniversary of the founding of the “Gavran 2“ Special Purpose Unit, a sub-headquarters unit of the Croatian Defence Council’s (HVO) General Staff. On the occasion the President of the Republic bestowed upon the “Gavran 2“ Special Purpose Unit the Order of the Croatian Trefoil for extraordinary services of its members in the Homeland War.
“No war was fought for this decoration. This decoration is a certain kind of exception, there are rules and exceptions, and exceptions should be justified. The rule stipulates that brigades are to be decorated”, President Milanović stated in his address, explaining that until two years ago brigades were not decorated, but not out of malice or ignorance. “I think my predecessors feel the same as I do about HVO units. The time wasn’t right, there was no necessary boldness, and now it’s easier for me. I’m doing something I consider a debt of honour towards the Croatian defenders, fighters for the freedom of Bosnia and Herzegovina, their homeland, but of the Croatian homeland as well, since we are one in two states. Some people in Croatia will perhaps feel uncomfortable, they will perhaps be ashamed, but I’m here to tell you that we are proud and grateful for what you gave Croatia. And that shall never be forgotten”, President Milanović noted.
“Your unit took part in just about the last operation of that difficult and glorious war – the Southern Move. It started in the last phase of the war, at the persuasion and request of our American allies, who were our allies then and are still today, yet who nevertheless did not help us much”, the Croatian President stated, stressing that they accomplished most on their own and they alone deserve the merit for their victories.
In his address President Milanović referred to the national anthem of Bosnia and Herzegovina that was played before the Croatian national anthem at the ceremony and commented that the order of the playing of the national anthems demonstrates goodwill, faith, a good humour and good intentions of the Croatian people in Bosnia and Herzegovina. “However, those are our good intentions but we have needs too. As a state and a people to which you belong, the Croatian people in these areas, we must fight together for these needs, this time not with weapons, but only with persistence, stubbornness, intelligence. We must fight for our interests”, the President noted.
“The election is over. It’s now up to the representatives of the Croatian people to decide with whom and how they will participate. In my view, my job and the job of the Croatian government simply stops here. Because this is your home, and these are things that belong to your intimate area. Our duty as the Croatian leadership, as the home country, is for you to make do with what you have elected at democratic elections. Our job is to make sure that you have the necessary elements. We’re half way there and we haven’t accomplished much. We must achieve to be respected as a state since we have no complexes and no guilt, only hold our heads up high and the awareness that we are acting justly. We are no righteous people or crusaders for some global ideals but just for our own needs today, for the needs of our children tomorrow. A nation, a state serves to fulfil the needs and the legitimate civilized aspirations of its residents, the members of the common space and common path. That is the only essential task of the Croatian state, everything else is a topic for discussion”, President Milanović noted.
“I want you to stay here and remain what you are, and that is a proud and ineradicable people because you are deeply rooted here. Despite our numbers we remain, we do not disappear. We are here and we want a normal and healthy coexistence with our neighbours and partners whether Serbs or Bosniak,” the President of the Republic said in concluding his address.
Also speaking of the service and deployment of the “Gavran 2” Special Purpose Unit besides President Milanović were the Head of the Municipality of Čitluk Marin Radišić, Anton Kikaš, the Croatian Defence Council’s War Defence Minister Vladimir Šoljić, and a congratulatory message of Major General Ivica Jerkić was read. Other speakers at the ceremony were the Deputy Chief of the Joint Staff of the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina War Deputy Commander of the Split Regional Command retired Major General Rahim Ademi, president of the Croatian Generals Association retired Major General Marinko Krešić and War Commander of the “Gavran 2” Special Purpose Unit Colonel Pero Barbarić – Pepi. At the end of the ceremony the War Commander of the “Gavran 2” Special Purpose Unit Colonel Pero Barbarić – Pepi presented the Unit’s war flag to the President of the Republic of Croatia.
On the occasion of the 29th anniversary of the founding of the “Gavran 2“ Special Purpose Unit President Milanović laid a wreath and lit a candle in front of the Memorial cross to the Fallen Defenders in Čitluk. Alongside President Milanović at the wreath-laying ceremony were the Ambassador of the Republic of Croatia to Bosnia and Herzegovina Ivan Sabolić, the Consul General of the Republic of Croatia in Mostar Marko Babić and the Special Adviser to the President of the Republic for Homeland War Veterans Marijan Mareković.
PHOTO: Office of the President of the Republic of Croatia / Ana Marija Katić