Anušić attends the Croatian Army Day: Investment in the CAF is an investment in a secure future
The 34th anniversary of establishing the Croatian Army was marked with a ceremonial academy at the Ministry of Defence in the presence of the highest civilian and military officials
The ceremonial academy marking the Day of the Croatian Armed Forces, the Croatian Army Day and the 34th anniversary of the Croatian Army establishment was held today at the Zvonimir Hall of the Croatian Army at the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Croatia in the presence of the highest civilian and military officials of the Republic of Croatia.
Congratulating all members on the Day of the Croatian Army, the Prime Minister of the Republic of Croatia Andrej Plenković, expressed his gratitude to members of the Croatian Army, of the police and to Croatian war veterans as a permanent task of the Government of the Republic of Croatia. He said that since the beginning of the first mandate, this government has tripled the defence budget, which will soon reach two billion euros, and that continued investments in Croatian Army ensure sovereignty and the capability of deterrence. “We continue to strengthen our defence capacities with a principled policy and strong support to all services of the Croatian Armed Forces,” was the message of the Prime Minister from this ceremonial academy.
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Minister Anušić: We achieved everything we wanted in the 1990s and we should be proud of that
On this occasion, Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Croatia and Minister of Defence Ivan Anušić emphasized the importance of the historical role of volunteers and Croatian defenders in creation of the Croatian state. He recalled the difficult moments of the Homeland War, when the defenders stood almost unarmed against a superior military force, and emphasized that those days are the foundation of today’s modern Croatian Army. “We were ready to stand up, to what some say, was the third-largest military power in Europe. We had nothing, they had everything. Our battle lasted five years and was paid for in blood,” the Minister said. He pointed out that since then the Croatian Army has been equipping and training, so that in the glorious year of 1995 it finally liberated the country and established the constitutional and legal order on the previously occupied Croatian territory.
“Since then, Croatia has been a member of the European Union and NATO. We have achieved everything we wanted in the 1990s and we should be proud of that. Croatian Army has grown into a serious, respectable military force,” he said, and in that sense, he particularly emphasized a strong step forward in development of the defence system in the last nine years, in which the budget of the Ministry of Defence has increased by 184 percent and reached one and a half billion euros.
The military is not only a protective force but also a potential driver of the economic development
“With the Government of the Republic of Croatia, the process of historic modernization of the Croatian Army has begun. It will certainly continue, together with our allies and our partners and together with Croatian people. Today, the Armed Forces are not an expense. They are an investment in a safe future, in a safe Croatia,” Minister Anušić said.
The Minister also addressed today’s security challenges. He said that Croatia must be aware of the global instability and be ready to respond to possible threats. He emphasized that the military is not only a protective force but also a potential driver of the economic development. “Let’s look at Poland, Germany, France – countries that have built strong economies on the military industry. Croatia can do the same,” he said in this context.
Finally, he congratulated all members of the Croatian Army on their day, expressing deep respect for the fallen war veterans and their families. “I congratulate you on the Day of the Croatian Army, I congratulate you on our day, which we should be proud of until the Croatian heart beats,” Minister Anušić concluded.
General Kundid: The Armed forces are a symbol of national identity
In his address, the President of the Republic of Croatia and Commander-in-Chief of the Croatian Armed Forces, Zoran Milanović, referred to difficult circumstances of the creation of the Croatian Army and Croatian state, and to equipping and modernization of the Croatian Army. Congratulating all members on the Day of the Croatian Army, he said that Croatia today is a loyal member of NATO and the European Union.
The Chief of the CAF General Staff, LTG Tihomir Kundid, congratulated all members of the Croatian Army on their day. He emphasized that establishment of the armed forces is one of the most important dates in history of every country. “The armed forces are a symbol of national identity, a guarantor of national security and a means of deterrence in challenging times,” he said.
Promotions, commendations and awards to the most meritorius
As part of the programme, promotions, commendations and awards were ceremoniously conferred.
In the event of the Day of the Armed Forces and Croatian Army Day, the President of the Republic of Croatia and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces promoted 124 officers and decorated two and commended five members of the CAF and the Ministry of Defence. Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Croatia and Minister of Defence commended and awarded 44 members of the CAF and the Ministry of Defence.
The Chief of the CAF General Staff promoted 173 non-commissioned officers and commended and awarded 57 members of the CAF and the Ministry of Defence.
A total of 124 members of the CAF were promoted to senior officer ranks, including 24 women. 173 non-commissioned officers were promoted to non-commissioned officer ranks, including 15 women.
The ceremonial marking of the Croatian Army Day at the Ministry of Defence was attended by: President of the Republic of Croatia and Commander-in-Chief of the Croatian Armed Forces Zoran Milanović, envoy of the President of the Croatian Parliament, Vice President of the Croatian Parliament, Academician Željko Reiner, Prime Minister of the Republic of Croatia Andrej Plenković, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence Ivan Anušić, President of the Defence Committee of the Croatian Parliament Arsen Bauk and other members of the Parliament, Deputy Prime Ministers and Ministers Tomo Medved and Davor Božinović, other Ministers in the Government, Chief of the CAF General Staff LTG Tihomir Kundid, Commanders of the CAF services, generals, admirals, war commanders, representatives of the Croatian General Staff, representatives of associations of Croatian veterans of the Homeland War, Rector of the University of Zagreb and Rector of the University of Defence and Security, representatives of the Military Diplomatic Corps, top athletes – contractual reservists of the CAF and numerous CAF members and other guests.
In memory of the killed, missing and deceased Croatian defenders
In the morning hours, on the eve of the ceremonial academy in memory of all the fallen, missing and deceased Croatian war veterans, high-ranking state delegations laid wreaths at the Mirogoj City Cemetery, in the memorial park by the monument “Voice of the Croatian Victim – the Wall of Pain”, in front of the Central Cross in the Alley of fallen Croatian veterans from the Homeland War, at the grave of the first Croatian President Dr. Franjo Tuđman and at the Common Grave for unidentified victims of the Homeland War at the Crematory. On behalf of the Government of the Republic of Croatia, wreaths were laid by envoy of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Croatia, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence Ivan Anušić.
Since 1991 to date, Croatian Army has become professional, strong, equipped and trained.
The Day of the Croatian Army is celebrated every year on 28 May, on the day when in 1991 the ceremonial review of the National Guard Corps was held at the stadium of Zagreb Football Club in Kranjčevićeva Street and when the first brigades of the National Guard Corps were represented to Croatian public.
Today, 34 years since that historic day, Croatian Army has grown into a professional army made up of professional, strong, equipped and trained units, operating side by side with NATO partners and allied forces throughout the world, contributing to shared security, stability and peace.
