Solemn Academy on the occasion of Armed Forces’ Day

The ceremony was attended by the Croatian President and Commander-in-Chief of the Croatian Armed Forces Ivo Josipović, Prime Minister Zoran Milanović, representative of the Croatian Parliament Speaker Josip Leko, Defence Minister Ante Kotromanović, Chief of General Staff Lieutenant General Drago Lovrić, state officials, generals, admirals and other officers, NCOs and soldiers of the Armed Forces, former members of the MOD and Armed Forces, representatives of veterans’ associations, representatives of the Diplomatic and Military Corps and other guests.

The program began by performing the national anthem and a minute of silence, followed by a short film on CAF.

In his address President Josipović stressed that the Armed Forces, as the army that liberated Croatia, enjoy a special status in our society. “Because of that status, we still expect very much from the CAF”, the President said.

Recalling the main tasks of the Armed Forces, the defence of sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Republic of Croatia, and helping the civilian society, the President said that today’s Croatia is a modern country, part of the Euro-Atlantic integrations, which in the whole world promote peace, democracy and human rights. In this promotion, through the international peacekeeping missions, members of the Armed Forces give their share as well. In the future, Commander-in-Chief of the Croatian Armed Forces sees CAF as the armed forces which is well equipped, motivated, with high standards, and with developed sense of responsibility.

Prime Minister Zoran Milanović said that Croatia paid expensive price of independence. Today, on the doorstep of the European Union, to be successful and rich, Croatia has to have strong state institutions. One of them is the Armed Forces, which, like others, must be open to society. There is no room for daily and party politics in the CAF. When we determine our goals, we must put that aside and make decisions in the national interest. In the present context, the role of the Armed Forces is to affirm Croatia as a modern and democratic country. A modern armed forces, with those who serve in it, is highly sophisticated organization, where the primaries are the knowledge, intelligence and initiative, and where career advancement is according to these criteria, Milanović said.

Defence Minister Kotromanović recalled the Homeland War, starting with the line-up in Kranjčevićeva, which was a symbolic but concrete point of establishing the Armed Forces which defended Croatia, and finally liberated it. Today, CAF is appreciated armed forces of a NATO country. Speaking about the current time and tasks, Kotromanović emphasized the reforms introduced in the Defence Ministry and General Staff. Their goal is for a Croatian soldier to be equipped, and has conditions for living, working, learning, training and exercises.

“All of Croatia is already for twenty-one years proud of its Armed Forces. Dear soldiers, NCOs and officers, the winners, you are the best guarantee that it will be so in the future as well”, the Minister concluded.

Lieutenant General Lovrić welcomed all the present on behalf of the entire Armed Forces, and pointed out the Homeland War, the post-war reorganization, and 2009 when Croatia became a NATO member, of the Alliance with which armies CAF share common capabilities and jointly contribute to world peace. With regard to the tasks and challenges of the future, Lovrić said he believed that the Armed Forces, as till now, regardless of the economic crisis, would successfully respond to them. Croatian citizens and our allies can be sure of that, Chief of General Staff said.

All speakers thanked to all those who gave what they could, their health and lives, for the freedom of Croatia.
In a ceremony followed, a total of 138 active officers were promoted.