The Officers Club of the Croatian Defence Academy \u201cPetar Zrinski\u201d in Zagreb hosted today, 4 April 2013, a ceremony marking the fourth anniversary of Croatia\u2019s full membership in NATO and 10th anniversary of its participation in the ISAF Operation. The ceremony was attended by the President of the Republic of Croatia, Ivo Josipovi\u0107, the Defence Minister, Ante Kotromanovi\u0107, the Chief of the General Staff, Lt. Gen. Drago Lovri\u0107, the Deputy Minister of the Interior, Evelin Tonkovi\u0107, generals, admirals and other senior members of the Armed Forces, representatives of the Ministry of Defence, former Chiefs of the General Staff, the representatives of religious communities and of the Military Diplomatic Corps and others. <\/p>\n
President Josipovi\u0107 in his address extended his congratulations to the promoted, decorated and commended members of the Ministry of Defence and of the Armed Forces in recognition to their outstanding contribution, along with that of many other officers, to freedom and independence of Croatia, democratic development and co-operation with the Allies within NATO: \u201cWe are responsible for future development of our Armed Forces and for their enhanced integration into NATO\u201d, stated the President. Speaking of the current challenges before the Armed Forces, the President said that the notion of security was nowadays far broader, and threats were taking different forms, and concluded that \u201cHowever, successful co-operation in international missions, and co-ordination with civil society organisations participating in missions for the benefit of the civilian community have proved that we have highly motivated and expert defence and security organisation\u201d.<\/p>\n
The address was followed by presentation of decorations and promotions. \u00a0
The Order of Duke Branimir, for their outstanding service in promoting the international status and reputation of the Croatian state and its relations with other countries was presented to General of the Army (ret.) Anton Tus, Lt. Gen. Drago Lovri\u0107, Zoran Dr\u010da, Dragan Lozan\u010di\u0107, Ambassador Igor Pokaz, Pjer \u0160imunovi\u0107, Brig. Gen. Mate Pa\u0111en and Brig. Gen. Josip Petrovi\u0107 (ret.). <\/p>\n
For meritorious contribution to the establishment and development the Armed Forces of the Republic of Croatia, at the occasion of the 4th anniversary of their integration into NATO, the Order of Vice-Roy Jela\u010di\u0107 was presented to Brig. Gen. Ivan Beneta, Brig. Gen. Zdravko Klanac, Cdre TIhomir Erceg, Cdre Robert Hranj, Col. Bla\u017e Beretin, Col. Senad Fejzi\u0107, Col. Ivica Kinder, Col. Ivica Oluji\u0107, Col. Darko Pintari\u0107, Col. Ivan Raos, Col. Boris \u0160eri\u0107. Col. Boris Trnski, Capt (N) Ivan Ani\u0107, Capt. (N).Predrag Stipanovi\u0107, Capt (N) Milan \u017duni\u0107, Lt. Col. Vlatko Bandalo, Lt.. Col. Dra\u017een Budinski, Lt. Col. Goran Novoseli\u0107, Lt. Col Ivica Ragu\u017e, Lt. Col. Tihomir Zebec and Lt. Col. Tomislav Birko (posthumously). <\/p>\n
Furthermore, the Order of the Croatian Trefoil was presented to one general officer, 36 officers and one non-commissioned officer, and the Order of the Croatian Three-Strand Pattern to two general officers, 33 officers, 12 non-commissioned officers and two civilian employees respectively. <\/p>\n
At the same occasion, pursuant to the Decisions of the President of the Republic as the Supreme Commander, 79 members of the Ministry of Defence and of the Armed Forces have received their promotions (Brig. Gen. Mate Pa\u0111en to the rank of Major General, Capt (N) Predrag Stipanovi\u0107 to the rank of Commodore, Col. Sini\u0161a Jurkovi\u0107 to the rank of Brig. Gen, and Lt. Cols Darko Mo\u017enik, Ivan Smojver and Tihomir Zebec to the rank of Colonel). Seven major officers have been promoted to the ranks of Lt. Col. and Commander (N) respectively, 15 officers to the ranks of Major and Lt. Commander (N), 18 officers to the ranks of Captain and Lieutenant (N) and 33 officers to the ranks of 1st.\u00a0 Lt.\u00a0 and Lt Junior Grade (N). <\/p>\n
The ceremony was concluded by a projection of the film \u201cParticipation of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Croatia in the ISAF Operation\u201d, by the Multimedia Department of the Ministry of Defence\u2019s Public Affairs and Publishing Service, and by a presentation of the book \u201cMilitary Police Corps \u2013 Building and Keeping the Peace\u201d, published by the Croatian Military Publications Department of the Public Affairs and Publishing Service.
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Four years of the Republic of Croatia\u2019s full NATO membership and 10 years of participation in the ISAF Operation were marked at the ceremony in Zagreb today, 4 April 2013.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":37184,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[129],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7130","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-announcements"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n