President Josipović extends New Year’s wishes to deployed soldiers
The President of the Republic of Croatia as Supreme Commander of the Croatian Armed Forces Ivo Josipović today, 1 January 2014 held a video-conference in the General Staff’s Operations Centre with the Croatian Armed Forces members participating in ISAF in Afghanistan and KFOR in Kosovo to extend his New Year’s wishes in person, followed by the Defence Minister Ante Kotromanović and the Chief of the General Staff, General Drago Lovrić.
“This year too we’ve had the honour and the pleasure to directly communicate with our soldiers in Afghanistan and in Kosovo“, said the President, and also informed that no extraordinary events were recorded and the tasks were carried out as usual”. „We have wished them safe and normal exercise of their assignments and return to their homes. They share the festive atmosphere, but continue attending to their duties that allow no rest nor pause“.
Defence Minister Kotromanović pointed out the traditional character of direct sharing of New Year wishes to the Croatian participants in the international operations, and stated that the Ministry of Defence and the Armed Forces have a long task list in the new year too, among which the modernisation of complex systems and the reforms, including the reform of the logistic system. „The concrete plans to implement in the year 2014 have been developed and we know what is to be done“ , concluded the Minister.
General Lovrić expressed his best wishes to all in the new year, emphasising the professional and responsible conduct by the Croatian soldiers in the international UN, NATO- and EU-led peace support operations.
The wishes were in addition extended by the President’s Defence Advisor Zlatko Gareljić, Deputy Defence Minister Višnja Tafra and the Commander of the General Staff’s Operations Centre, Brig. Gen. Ivan Jurić.