Croatian Defence Academy marks 24th Anniversary

General Drago Lovrić, the Envoy of the Minister of Defence – Lieutenant General Mirko Šundov, Chief Defence Inspector, the Military Ordinary, Mons Juraj Jezerinac,  the representatives of the Croatian academic community, senior civilian and military officials, the staff and the students of the institutions within the Academy.  Among the invitees were family members of the first Croatian President, Franjo Tuđman, and of the fallen and deceased generals and officers  of the Croatian armed forces  – Staff General Janko Bobetko, Major General Blago Zadro,  Major General Andrija Matijaš Pauk, Lieutenant Colonel  Predrag Matanović – after whom units of the Academy have been named. 
The President extended her congratulations on the 24th anniversary  nnd the appreciation to the staff  meritorious for the establishment and development of the Academy. The marking of the 24th anniversary is of special importance as the first anniversary under the new name – that of the first Presient of Croatia Franjo Tuđman.
“By naming the Academy after the first Croatian President we have made a tribute to his role in the establishment of the sovereign state of Croatia and as the Supreme Commander of the Croatian armed forces in the Homeland War. The Croatian Defence Academy was established in hard times, and in the post-war period gained recognition and successfully continued its mission. It gave major contribution in the transformation of the defence system as a precondition for NATO membership“.
The Chief of the General Staff of the Croatian Armed Forces, General Drago Lovrić in his address recalled the moment and the circumstances of the establishment of the Academy. „Wartime students continued their education in the battlefields, and the Academy taught the heroes of the Homeland War  – Predrag Matanović, Damir Tomljanović Gavran, Marijan Celjak to name a few –  who sacrified their lives for our freedom. They were the  propelling force of the Croatian military and their loss is only compensable if our armed forces are built on their system of values, patriotism and loyalty; I expect you to be the peacetime heroes and the heroes of knowledge , and to win the future battles with your knowledge and abilities“.
Chief Inspector,  Lieutenant General Mirko Šundov highlighted the ongoing developments in the Academy, including the denomination, renovation and the new study programmes illustrating the productive co-operation with the  Ministry of Science, Education and Sport and with the academic community. „On behalf of the Defence Minister and on my personal behalf I am extending the appreciation and congratulation to the members of the Croatian Defence Academy, the academic staff and the students on their achievements, evincing the essential role  of  knowledge, capabilities and skills for the professional development and career“.
The Commander of the Croatian Defence Academy, Lieutenant General  Slavko Barić remembered the founding days: “the Croatian Defence Academy was established in historic days 24 years ago, as an institution offering  the Croatian soldiers the opportunity to acquire new knowledge and capabilities, which they applied in the battlefields“.
The new impulse was given after the Homeland War, with the establishment of a new system of education and traning of NCOs and officers , whereas from 2012 to 2014 the Academy grew into a higher education and research institution“. 
“The activities of the Croatian Defence Academy were crowned with the launching of the university study programmes  –  Military Engineering and Military Management – designed in co-operation with the University of Zagreb“, said Lt. Gen. Barić. 
Traditionally the ceremony was an occasion to present the promotions, decorations and awards.