Bozinovic opened exhibition of wartime equipment in Rijeka

Two mortars, a howitzer, infantry combat vehicles, tanks and two armoured vehicles, and hand-made antiaircraft gun were exposed. The special attention was drawn by the two vehicles originally produced in Rijeka– “Korni” and “Hrvatina”, which were used by troops from the  ​​Primorje-Gorski Kotar County. The exhibition, at the instigation of veterans’ associations, was organized by the City of Rijeka and Primorje-Gorski Kotar County in cooperation with MOD, and was set to mark twenty years of Croatian independence and the 20^th anniversary of the operational zone Rijeka.

Defence Minister Davor Bozinovic said that he was honoured to participate in the days when Rijeka, the town hero, celebrates 20^th anniversary of the establishment of operational zones and days when Rijeka citizens made Croatian defence history. Minister Bozinovic said that the Armed Forces now have new equipment, which has been also the result of domestic intelligence, and that the Croatian soldiers from boots to helmets were equipped with Croatian products. He pointed out that Croatia became a member of NATO and would soon become an EU member, and that 20 years ago we could not have imagined that the U.S. Navy ship could be repaired in a local shipyard, such as now the flag ship of the U.S. 6^th Fleet, USS Mount Whitney.

He added that by the adoption of high standards, we opened a space on the market that offers many opportunities and that local companies already have been gaining more work from abroad. Noting that our market will soon have about 500 million people, he also mentioned that huge market of the UN would open soon to Croatian companies, which annually offer tenders worth around $ 14.5 billion, recommending for the domestic industry to participate in these competitions.

Rijeka Mayor Vojko Obersnel said the exhibit shows that not only Rijeka citizens participated in the battlefield, but also that Rijeka industry was part of the wartime logistics. He mentioned that there was the idea that a part of wartime equipment permanently stay in Rijeka, and thanked the Ministry of Defence and Military Museum of the Ministry of Defence for their cooperation in organizing this exhibition. County Prefect Zlatko Komadina said that the exhibition wanted to show younger generations how Croatia was defended, when there were almost no arms in the conflict with the former JNA and Chetnik forces. In addition to exhibit, the MOD stand was set up to inform citizens about the possibilities of joining the Armed Forces. The exhibition is open until October 9.