ZAGREB, April 30 (Hina) - Members of the Croatian Defence Ministry and the Armed Forces' Main Staff gathered at a commemoration in Zagreb on Wednesday to pay tribute to a retired general and former army chief-of-staff, Janko Bobetko,
who died in Zagreb on Tuesday.
ZAGREB, April 30 (Hina) - Members of the Croatian Defence Ministry
and the Armed Forces' Main Staff gathered at a commemoration in
Zagreb on Wednesday to pay tribute to a retired general and former
army chief-of-staff, Janko Bobetko, who died in Zagreb on Tuesday.
#L#
Expressing condolences to Bobetko's family on behalf of the Armed
Forces, the Chief-of-Staff, Lieutenant General Josip Lucic, said
the Armed Forces were forever indebted to Bobetko for his great
deeds.
"Members of the Armed Forces will always remember the man who, in an
advanced age and having earned his retirement, made available his
huge experience and started building a new army, consisting mostly
of people without military experience but wishing to live in peace
and in their own country," Lucic said. Patiently and steadfastly,
Bobetko built an army which was able to first stop and later, in
operations "Flash" and "Storm", force the aggressor out of the
country, Lucic added.
He recalled Bobetko's successful command of Croatian troops on
different fronts during the war. Members of guard brigades and the
army will forever remember the man who spoke quietly, but whose
words were heard and respected by everyone, Lucic said.
Along with Bobetko's family, today's commemoration was attended by
Parliament President Zlatko Tomcic, Prime Minister Ivica Racan,
President Stjepan Mesic's envoy Petar Stipetic and Defence
Minister Zeljka Antunovic.
A book of condolence was opened at the Defence Ministry.
General Janko Bobetko will be bid goodbye at Zagreb's central
cemetery of Mirogoj on Friday, May 2, and will be buried on the same
day in the village of Crnac in Sisak County, where he was born.
The goodbye and burial ceremonies will be held with the highest
military honours.
(hina) rml