Addressing the central ceremony, Croatian President Stjepan Mesic, the Armed Forces Supreme Commander, said that all of them were aware that the air force and air defence had "passed a demanding path in reforms in the defence sector and that the reforms are still not over".
He added that a long-term plan for the development of the armed forces was being formulated. The document will outline in detail the goals which must be achieved in the coming period, he said.
Mesic added that he had also proposed the establishment of a special state department with the task to formulate a security policy and co-ordinate reforms,
Commending Air Force and Air Defence members for their achievements so far, Mesic urged them to continue with their professional training so as to achieve NATO standards and create conditions for supplying them with state-of-the-art arms.