20th Anniversary of the Croatian Military Academy

Besides the HVU staff and students, the ceremony was also attended by the President and Commander in Chief of the Croatian Armed Forces Ivo Josipovic, representative of the Minister of Defence State Secretary Zeljko Gorsic, Chief of General Staff Lieutenant General Drago Lovric, retired Military Academy officials, representatives of the university community and others.
Marking the 20^th anniversary began by the addresses of President Josipovic who congratulated the Croatian Military Academy the 20^th anniversary since its establishment. Josipovic also held a lecture titled “Foreign and Security Policy of the Republic of Croatia”. During his lecture on foreign policy, with the emphasis on the upcoming full membership of Croatia in the European Union and regional relations, Josipovic reminded that the CAF was also a part of Croatian foreign policy. This fact was clearly seen during his visit to Afghanistan, where he was proud to get so many praises from allies and partners at the expense of our soldiers. Speaking of security challenges and human resources as a component of security policy, the President emphasized that the CAF staff was highly motivated, with developed patriotic and professional ethics. After the lecture, the President spoke about the military education system and stressed the importance of its connection with the civil educational system.

Representative of the Minister of Defence, MOD State Secretary Zeljko Gorsic called the Military Academy, “a nursery of military knowledge”. Man is the highest value of the CAF and the Military Academy in particular contributed to this, he said. The fact that foreign students come to education to Military Academy, which is evidence that the College is recognized outside the Croatian borders, brings particular satisfaction. But knowledge as a dynamic and living organism has a limited lifespan, so it should be constantly updated and supplemented, MOD State Secretary concluded.

Chief of General Staff Lieutenant General Lovric recalled the time two decades ago, when the first courses began by which we started the process of creating a Croatian military educational system. The final confirmation of the quality of education in the war period gave the operations of the liberation of the occupied areas. Up to the present day Military Academy has profiled in a quality, organized and respected institution, which provided long-term professional and high quality personnel for the Armed Forces, the General said.

The host, acting Director of the Military Academy, Brigadier General Slaven Zdilar concluded that the Military Academy was an institution known for its results. In the 20 years through various forms of education have passed over 30 000 people. Speaking about the forthcoming period, General Zdilar emphasized that the modern project of education would be achieved primarily thanks to the skilled and professional Military Academy staff. Further development of the Academy is a logical, legitimate and unquestionable. Important role in achieving these goals will have greater interconnection with the civilian education system, Zdilar said.

Upon completion of the ceremony, guests toured the exhibitions set in the lobby of the Officer’s Club in the exhibition hall. The exhibited artefacts were news articles about Vukovar –  “Vukovar in print media since 1991 to 1996”, exhibition of Croatian decorations, military literature, exhibition on the participation of members of the Armed Forces in peacekeeping missions and operations, and exhibition on HVU activities through photos.

Upon the anniversary, yesterday, 19 December 2011, promotion of the military publishing of HVU was held in the Officer’s Club, and today before the main ceremony this morning Holy Mass was served in the chapel of St. Michael the Archangel.