Ceremony held to mark 26th anniversary of Armed Forces establishment

Attending the ceremony was the entire state leadership and numerous other guests, including wartime generals Ante Gotovina and Mladen Markac.

A short film about the history and present capabilities of the Armed Forces was shown, as was a speech by the first Croatian president, Franjo Tudjman, at the first line-up of the National Guard Corps at the Zagreb Football Club stadium in Zagreb on 28 May 1991.

Defence Minister Damir Krsticevic said, among other things, that the strategy of national security that was nearing completion identified priorities, including protection of the Croatian airspace with own capabilities.

A decision on the matter is a difficult one, but we must not give up on our air force and must make a decision on it by the end of this year, said Krsticevic.

The will to keep the Air Force exists, Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic said in his address, recalling that his government had increased budgetary allocations for the army this year.

He said that two strategic documents - a strategy of national security and a law on national security - were expected to be adopted by the end of this year.
At the ceremony, President Grabar-Kitarovic awarded certificates of promotion to Armed Forces members who were promoted on the occasion of Armed Forces Day and presented awards to the readiest serviceman and servicewoman in 2017.

Text: Hina

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