"Every country is proud of its soldiers, expecting of those who took an oath to protect and defend it, and the same goes for you. Don't forget that Croatia is proud and you should also proud of your country," the president said.
We live in times when one can say that peace has prevailed in all of Europe, and Croatia's membership of the European Union will further strengthen our position, he added.
By participating in international peace operations and missions of the UN, NATO and the EU, Croatia will continue to contribute to peace, security and stability, said Josipovic.
"Peace is an inseparable category in today's world and by building peace around the world, we are also guarding our country," he said, adding that Croatia would always pursue a policy of peace, cooperation and understanding.
The cadets were also greeted by Deputy Defence Minister Visnja Tafra and the Armed Forces Chief-of-Staff, Lieutenant General Drago Lovric.