He was speaking at the Petar Zrinski military academy on the occasion of the fourth anniversary of Croatia's NATO membership and the tenth anniversary of its participation in the ISAF mission in Afghanistan.
Decorating, promoting and commending numerous Croatian Army officers, Josipovic said NATO membership and the involvement in peace missions as well as the fact that Croatia would join the European Union in less than three months made everyone in the country especially proud.
"Everything we have done about those issues shows that we have a highly motivated, expert and capable defence and security structure," he said.
This is also an opportunity to remember all those who contributed to the creation, defence and development of a democratic and sovereign Croatia, Croatian defenders, notably those who gave their lives for Croatia, said the president.
He congratulated the decorated, promoted and commended officers, saying they had made a special contribution to Croatia's freedom, independence and democratic development as well as to cooperation with the NATO allies. "The country is especially proud of them."
Josipovic underlined the state's responsibility for the development of the Armed Forces and their greater integration with NATO structures whereby Croatia, he said, contributed to the stability and security of the region.
Josipovic said security today equally referred to the security of the state and society as well as the security of the individual and groups. He also highlighted economic security was very important for the development and well-being of every society.
Responding to questions from the press, the president said that with its ten-year experience in the ISAF mission Croatia had shown that it could match the rest of the world, citing the human factor, the excellent training and experience from the 1991-95 Homeland War, as an advantage of the Croatian military.
He described the four years of NATO membership as four years of success, working together with partners and Croatia's increased security.