Christmas and New Year greetings from Minister Anušić and Admiral Hranj

On Friday, December 22, 2023 Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Ivan Anušić and Chief of the CAF General Staff Admiral Robert Hranj extended Christmas and New Year greetings on the occasion of the upcoming holidays.

Greetings from Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Ivan Anušić

“Dear members of the Croatian Armed Forces,
Dear employees of the Croatian Ministry of Defence,
Dear Croatian war veterans and family members of dead, deceased and missing Croatian war veterans,
May you have a merry and blessed Christmas and may the birth of Christ bring you an abundance of peace, love and joy in the following year.

This pre-holiday season invites us to look back on the year that is coming to an end, to draw a line and see the results of our work.

This is also an opportunity to see how much good we have done and admit to ourselves in which areas we can improve next year.

The Croatian Armed Forces can be proud of their achievements because they leave behind a year that will remain memorable in many respects.

It is thanks to you, your effort, your hard and dedicated work that some of the largest equipping and modernisation projects since the Homeland War period are being successfully completed, and the Croatian Armed Forces will continue to be the guarantor of our country’s safe future.

That is why I want to thank you for every second invested in achieving our common goals to strengthen our defence capabilities.
Thank you for your contribution to building an even more modern and stronger Croatian Armed Forces.

With your hard and dedicated work, you have proven countless times that all the infrastructure, technology and equipment mean nothing if there is no man standing by them – a soldier, non-commissioned officer and an officer!

Without you, dear members of the Croatian Armed Forces, none of this would have any value. You are the key link that binds and connects everything else.

That is why next year we will continue to invest in personnel, to improve your standard, your substantive rights and working conditions so that the Croatian Armed Forces will continue to be a family of happy and satisfied soldiers, non-commissioned officers and officers who carry on the tradition of winners, brave Croatian war defenders with dignity.

Christmas is a family holiday, so this gives me an opportunity to thank your families and your loved ones for the support they have given you in order to do your work in the best possible way.

May the feast of the birth of Jesus bring joy, peace and understanding to your homes.

I also extend special greetings to the families of the dead, deceased and missing Croatian war veterans who had woven their dreams and their lives into the foundations of the Croatian state and the Croatian Armed Forces.

I believe that the Christmas message of unity, peace and giving will reach all of us and that it will motivate us to give even more persistently, be solidary and focus on the good in everything we do and who we are.

I wish you merry and blessed Christmas and a happy and successful New Year!”

Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Croatia and Defence Minister Ivan Anušić

Greetings from Chief of the CAF General Staff Admiral Robert Hranj

“At the end of this year and at the time when we are preparing for Christmas, the holiday atmosphere fills us with hope and gives us the strength to continue to preserve peace and strengthen unity and trust.

Optimism, humanity, solidarity, patriotism, courage and love for one’s neighbour are the values by which Croatian soldiers are recognized at home and abroad. May they also guide us in the following year.

We warmly remember all those who are no longer with us and those who sacrificed their lives for our country’s peace and freedom and a better life for all Croatian citizens.

In the past period, as before, Croatian soldiers proved that they know how to respond to all the challenges of our military calling, investing their effort, knowledge and experience in every given task.

Our thoughts are especially addressed to those who are separated from your families and are honourably serving abroad and performing the tasks of preserving the international order and defending peace.

Let the strong message of Christmas be an incentive for all of us to find motivation, and with dedicated work persist in preserving peace and building a better future for all of us. I believe that unity is our greatest strength and that in this spirit we will continue to strengthen and develop our Armed Forces.

I wish you and your families a happy and joyful Christmas and an abundance of joy, health and success in 2024!”

Chief of the CAF General Staff Admiral Robert Hranj