ZAGREB, February 25, 2020 – President Zoran Milanović on Tuesday attended a ceremony marking the 26th anniversary of the formation of the Honorary Protection Battalion and Military Chaplaincy Day, where he promoted members of the battalion and awarded them with red berets.
The Honorary Protection Battalion is part of the General Staff of the Croatian Armed Forces and is responsible for honorary-ceremonial tasks for the purposes of the state and military leadership as well as for the protection and security of the President of the Republic as Commander in Chief.
President Milanović greeted the 300-strong battalion at a special ceremony in the Tuškanac barracks in Zagreb and said that the troops were selected according to very clear and measurable criteria, which makes them a cut above the rest.
“The others are good, but based on all the criteria, which are clear, transparent and known to everyone, you are better and remain elite,” he said.
“In your case, elitism is not gained by birth or origin but through work and learning and that is what I was referring to in my inauguration speech, that I will advocate, stimulate and promote professionalism and patriotism,” he added.
Milanović said he was pleased that the battalion is equipped with helmets and rifles made in Croatia. “I would like us to produce airplanes…we will be producing ships, I will advocate that, so that we are as visible as possible. Here, we will conduct our own policies and those of NATO and our allies, but our policies too,” he said.
He thanked all Homeland War veterans who had defended Croatia in 1991. “I don’t know any case in recent history in which so many people owed so much to such a small number of people, Croatia’s defenders in 1991…who came from a relatively poor, disarmed and plundered country. We are referring to a few thousand people who held Croatia during those times. Everlasting glory and gratitude to them, particularly those who were killed, who were wounded, their families, everlasting thanks,” Milanović said.
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