ZAGREB, May 27, 2019 – Senior state officials and delegations of the Defence Ministry and the Croatian Army attended on Sunday, on the occasion of the 28th anniversary of the establishment of the Croatian Armed Forces, Croatian Army Day and Land Forces Day, a changing of the Honour Guard ceremony and a display of the guards’ acrobatic feats.
“I am glad the incumbent government restored the changing of the Honour Guard ceremony, which is in the service of the identity of the Croatian state, Homeland War values, popularisation of the military profession and is a tourist attraction,” Defence Minister Damir Krstičević said after the ceremony.
The Armed Forces Chief-of-Staff, General Mirko Šundov, who also attended the ceremony, said that the army was maintaining its current capabilities and investing in its modernisation and equipment.
“We will continue developing capabilities of the Land Forces and their mobility, and will continue working so that the Navy gets a new vessel and the Air Force combat aircraft as soon as possible,” said Šundov.
The commander of the Land Forces, Brigadier General Siniša Jurković, said that the army had returned to Vukovar, Varaždin, Pula and Sinj, and that this year it would also return to Ploče.
“The army has returned to those cities to the mutual satisfaction of soldiers and citizens, and the advantages are visible, soldiers’ motivation is greater because they perform their tasks better being close to their families,” said Jurković.
Participating in the ceremony of the Honour Guard changing were three officers in black-and-white historical uniforms and 26 soldiers and non-commissioned officers in red-and-black historical uniforms.
The Honour Guard Battalion was established in 1990 and existed until 2000.
It performs ceremonial tasks for top-level state and military officials, as well as tasks related to the protection and security of the Commander-in-Chief, President of the Republic of Croatia.
Changing of the guard ceremonies will be held outside the government headquarters in St. Mark’s Square in the period from May 26 to October 8 on Saturdays and holidays, except in cases of heavy rainfall.
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