President Milanović: The truth about the Homeland War should constantly be repeated for those who try to dispute it
“This is a small gesture – so that it is not forgotten, that it is always remembered and that it is passed on to the next generation, to remember the truth. And the truth about the Homeland War is quite simple. It is necessary to keep repeating it calmly and persistently to those who dispute it because that is the only way to preserve it,” President Milanović told Croatian defenders, widows of Croatian defenders and members of their families at the military decoration ceremony in Pakoštane.
The President of the Republic and Commander in Chief of the Croatian Armed Forces Zoran Milanović presented decorations to Homeland War Croatian defenders of Pakoštane. For demonstrated prowess in the Homeland War, Boris Bašić was decorated. For outstanding merit for the Republic of Croatia achieved in the war, the Order of the Croatian Trefoil was awarded to Roko Vujasin, Darko Vukoja, Ivica Rogić – posthumously, Tomislav Kovačević – posthumously, Zdenko Ćudina, Željko Demo, Ante Bungur, Branimir Gotovina, Ante Ivas, Ante Knežević, Andrija Lacman, Milivoj Lalin, Josip Maksan, Renato Marketin, Nedjeljko Rosan, Vinko Rosan, Milivoj Stojanov, Ivica Šarin, Denis Tuta, Ivica Vanjak, Petar Vučkov, Antonio Vukoja, Šime Vukoja and Mario Vulin.
In his address to the gathering, President Milanović spoke about the Homeland War, noting that nobody helped Croatia at that time. “Croatia was defended by a very small number of people, and the country was initially under an embargo. I can count on the fingers of one hand the states that actually helped us, others may not have hindered us, but they couldn’t care less. And this is a lesson we must never forget – only we care about this country, nobody else does. And how we agree, how we get organized, is how it will be for us,” he remarked.
Speaking about Croatia’s position in the European Union, President Milanović stated: “Croatia is stable, it is a functional modern democracy where people feel good and where there is still a lot of work to do. It was achieved, and it would not have had it not been for our defenders, especially those at the very beginning. The first ones were crucial and they should be remembered for a special reason”.
Besides Pakoštane President Milanović visited Zadar and Sukošan. On the occasion of the 30th anniversary of Military and Police Operation Maslenica, the President of the Republic and Commander in Chief of the Croatian Armed Forces laid a wreath and lit a candle in memory of the Homeland War victims at the central cross in Zadar’s municipal cemetery and at the memorial “Za Hrvatsku” in Sukošan. In Sukošan he held a meeting with officials of the Municipality of Sukošan, and held a meeting with the widows of the Croatian defenders of Škabrnja in Pakoštane.
Attending the ceremony alongside President Milanović were the Special Adviser to the President for Homeland War Veterans Marijan Mareković and the Aide-de-camp to the President Colonel Vlado Čulina.
PHOTO: Office of the President of the Republic of Croatia / Tomislav Bušljeta