ZAGREB, May 27 (Hina) - Croatia's President and Armed Forces' Supreme Commander Stjepan Mesic on Tuesday issued a message offering his best wishes to commissioned officers, non-commissioned officers, soldiers, military employees and
members of the Armed Forces on the occasion of Armed Forces' Day, May 28.
ZAGREB, May 27 (Hina) - Croatia's President and Armed Forces'
Supreme Commander Stjepan Mesic on Tuesday issued a message
offering his best wishes to commissioned officers, non-
commissioned officers, soldiers, military employees and members of
the Armed Forces on the occasion of Armed Forces' Day, May 28. #L#
He also offered his best wishes to the Land Forces on the occasion of
their day, which is also celebrated tomorrow.
"Twelve years have passed since the historic lining up of the
National Guard Corps at the stadium in Kranjceviceva Street in
Zagreb. That was the beginning of the Croatian Armed Forces, an army
whose strength, courage, determination and competence made it
possible to defend the country and make the centuries-old Croatian
dream come true," Mesic said in the message.
After five long war years, a period of transition into peace-time
army organisation started, Mesic said, adding that the
reorganisation of the army had started in the past several months.
"That process has only one goal - the reorganisation of the Armed
Forces into a modern military force, capable of defending the
sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Republic of Croatia,
compatible at the same time with the armies of the western
democracies," reads the message.
As they are being reorganised, the Armed Forces are successfully
fulfilling their duties assumed with membership in Partnership for
Peace and participating in many UN peace missions.
The implementation of the second cycle of the Membership Action
Plan, which is bringing us closer to NATO at an accelerated pace,
will contribute to general security and stability in the region and
bring Croatia closer to the European Union, he said.
On the occasion of the holiday, President Mesic decided, on the
basis of his constitutional and legal authorities and at the
proposal of competent officials, to promote to higher ranks in
regular and special procedure 591 members of the Armed Forces.
The Armed Forces' Chief-of-Staff, Lieutenant General Josip Lucic,
was promoted to the rank of General, while his deputy, Major General
Slavko Baric, was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant General.
The Navy Commander, Commodore Zdravko Kardum, was promoted to the
rank of Rear-Admiral, while the Commander of the Air Force and Anti-
Aircraft Defence, Brigadier Viktor Koprivnjak, was promoted to the
rank of Brigadier General.
(hina) rml sb