U povodu obilježavanja 19. obljetnice smrti prvog hrvatskog predsjednika Franje Tuđmana u ponedjeljak, 10. prosinca 2018. godine u Zagrebu je na raskrižju ulica Grada Vukovara i Hrvatske bratske zajednice, otkriven četiri metra visok spomenik predsjedniku Tuđmanu, rad akademskog kipara Kuzme Kovačića. Svečanosti otkrivanja spomenika uz članove obitelji Tuđman, nazočila je vrhovna zapovjednica Oružanih snaga RH i predsjednica RH Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović, predsjednik Hrvatskog sabora Gordan Jandroković, predsjednik Vlade RH Andrej Plenković, potpredsjednik Vlade i ministar obrane Damir Krstičević, načelnik Glavnog stožera OSRH general zbora Mirko Šundov, zamjenica zagrebačkog gradonačelnika Jelena Pavičić Vukičević, zagrebački nadbiskup kardinal Josip Bozanić uz ostale visoke državne dužnosnike, predstavnike civilnih vlasti, braniteljskih udruga te brojne okupljene građane. www.morh.hr
The marking of 19th anniversary of death of President Tuđman
On the occasion of the 19th anniversary of the death of the first Croatian President Franjo Tuđman, a 4-m monument (a sculpture by the academic sculptor Kuzma Kovačić) was unveiled in Zagreb on 10 December 2018.
The ceremony was attended by the family members of President Tuđman alongside the President of Croatia and Supreme Commander of the Croatian Armed Forces in office Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović, the Speaker of the Croatian Parliament Gordan Jandroković, the Prime Minister of the Republic of Croatia Andrej Plenković, the Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Damir Krstičević, the Chief of the General Staff of the Croatian Armed Forces General Mirko, Deputy Mayor of Zagreb Jelena Pavičić Vukičević, the Archbishop of Zagreb, Cardinal Josip Bozanić, other senior state officials, representatives of veterans’ associations from the Homeland War and numerous citizens.
The first president of Croatia dared to make his vision of the Croatian future a reality, said President Grabar-Kitarović.
“President Tuđman exposed himself to political and judiciary persecution, knowing that a noble cause took sacrifice.
The key to his success was in his belief that small peoples as Croatians were also entitled to to great ideas and the ability to realise them. As historian President Tuđman was able to read the sign of times knowing that the historic moment had to be seized“, said the President.
As a historian, he recognized the signs of time and knew that the key historical moment when he came should not be missed , “the President said.
The Speaker of the Croatian Parliament commended the monument design and said it depicted faithfully the life and achievement of the first president of Croatia.
“President Tuđman was one of the few statesmen successful in materialising their far-reaching ideas and vision and struggle for the state of Croatia. He had had a vision of free, independent and sovereign democratic and multiparty Croatia that was a part of Europe”.said the Speaker.
The political and intellectual mastery of President Tuđman that came from his years-long studies in history and his personal and family experience significantly helped realise the Croatian strategic national interests“, said the Prime Minister.
“Under President Tuđman’s leadership nd galvanised by the unity, sacrifice and bravery of its people and in particular of the defenders, Croatia made its greatest achievement introducing a democratic multiparty system and gaining independence and international recognition and defence from the greater Serbian aggression and liberation operations “Lightning” and “Storm” and the peaceful reintegration of the Danubian Basin and the termination of the conflicts in Bosnia and Herzegovina and reconstruction of destructed areas of Croatia”.
Minister Krstičević reminded of the support by President to Croatian defenders during the Homeland War..
“Paying respects to President Tuđman we mustn’t forget the fateful time of the Homeland War and the birth of Croatia.
Guided by his vision President Tuđman led the Croatian people towards the future; founding the proud and independent state guided by his famous credo:”Everything for Croatia, Croatia for nothing in the world!”.