SPLIT, Sept 17 (Hina) - The tenth anniversary of the Croatian Navy was marked in Split on Monday in the presence of Croatian President Stipe Mesic and senior military and state officials. President Mesic said the past ten years had
been marked by much suffering, but that the hundred-year dream Croatians had of their own country had come true. At the very beginning of the war, when the aggressor was powerful, the Croatian Navy, which consisted mostly of sailors and fishermen, showed determination. By capturing 35 war ships, the Croatian Navy built its foundations with which islands were liberated and strong support provided in the defence of Split, Dubrovnik, Sibenik and the entire Adriatic. The battles are deeply embedded in the history, Mesic said. Today the Croatian Navy is richer by several state-of-the-art ships, he said. Mesic stressed Croatia was responsible for half of the Adriatic, and
SPLIT, Sept 17 (Hina) - The tenth anniversary of the Croatian Navy
was marked in Split on Monday in the presence of Croatian President
Stipe Mesic and senior military and state officials.
President Mesic said the past ten years had been marked by much
suffering, but that the hundred-year dream Croatians had of their
own country had come true. At the very beginning of the war, when the
aggressor was powerful, the Croatian Navy, which consisted mostly
of sailors and fishermen, showed determination. By capturing 35 war
ships, the Croatian Navy built its foundations with which islands
were liberated and strong support provided in the defence of Split,
Dubrovnik, Sibenik and the entire Adriatic. The battles are deeply
embedded in the history, Mesic said.
Today the Croatian Navy is richer by several state-of-the-art
ships, he said.
Mesic stressed Croatia was responsible for half of the Adriatic,
and should therefore be capable of defending it. It is our
aspiration, he said, to reorganise the Croatian Armed Forces into a
military power and respond to the tasks of the Partnership for
Peace.
Unfortunately, there are still small groups in Croatia which call
for the disrespect of the Constitution when it suits them, Mesic
said. He added that pluralism in thinking is democracy, but
democracy is also respect for the Constitution and laws, from which
nobody can be exempt, notwithstanding their merits. Croatia must
give its contribution in the fight for the principles of humanity
and the rule of law in the world, the President asserted.
Defence Minister Jozo Rados said the Croatian Navy's actions along
the coast and on sea had secured freedom for that part of the
country, which was a great contribution to the complete liberation
of Croatia. He announced numerous novelties in the technology of
the Armed Forces, including the setting up of radar systems on
islands.
Croatian Armed Forces Chief-of-Staff General Petar Stipetic said
both Split and the entire Dalmatia region had great significance in
the Homeland Defence War. Today, in peace, the Croatian Navy is
capable of any defence action, he said, and expressed satisfaction
with the education of new staff and equipping of naval units.
The aim of the reorganisation of the Armed Forces is to become
equipped so we can stand next to NATO, Stipetic said, adding the US
example had shown that even in peace one faced dangers, as even the
safest countries were not completely safe.
Those who today call on the army to achieve their goals
circumventing laws and the constitution are mistaken, Stipetic
said, expressing conviction the Croatian army would only fulfil
that which was set by the Constitution and the law.
Attending today's ceremony were also a senior military delegation
from Slovenia, military attaches to Croatia with seats in Zagreb,
Rome and Vienna, the Split consular corps, war commanders of the
Croatian army and navy, veterans organisations and the families of
navy members killed in the Homeland War, among others.
(hina) lml