The Croatian Minister of Defense, Ivan Anušić, yesterday ceremonially sent the 41st contingent of the Croatian Armed Forces (HRVCON) to the KFOR peacekeeping operation at the barracks of the 1st Tiger Guards Brigade in Zagreb, noting that earlier contingents, totaling 1,888 soldiers, were rated as excellent.
KFOR’s 41st HRVCON force consists of members of the Motorized Infantry Company, Aviation Unit, ISR Unit, Headquarters Unit, national logistics and intelligence support elements, and the medical team. It consists of 131 members of the Armed Forces, eight of whom are women, who will replace the 40th contingent, reports Hina.
Anushiqi said in a speech that a few months ago he visited the 40th contingent in Kosovo and emphasized that our army and soldiers are always in good condition and among the best. He expressed confidence that this contingent will do it again.
He emphasized to the soldiers that they should wear the uniforms and insignia of the victorious army and said that he is sure that they will honorably carry out the mission to which they will be assigned soon.
In a statement to the media, he said that the situation in Kosovo and its surroundings “is not what we would like it to be” and that it is “unsatisfactory and not good”.
“If the situation were good, we would not have to send armed forces to the KFOR mission, we hope that NATO and the forces of NATO and KFOR will manage to stabilize the situation, so that there is no excess and there should be no expansion of violence”, he said.
He added that there were some situations that “were borderline”.
“All those situations were caused by the Serbian side. For this reason, it is necessary to maintain order and calm in that area. The presence of the Croatian contingent and all those who are in Kosovo certainly gives us the right to think that security in Kosovo will be preserved”, said Anushiq.
Answering a journalist’s question, he said that war is a difficult word because war will not happen, saying that this is what our forces are for – to maintain peace.
“We are an army ready for prevention, we are not preparing for any attack and war, but for prevention, we must be strong and strong to prevent anyone who thinks they can repeat 1991 and when we talk concretely about Kosovo, I sincerely hope… also in Bosnia-Herzegovina, that there will be no escalation of the conflict”, stressed Anushiq.
Answering a journalist’s question, he said that war is a difficult word because war will not happen, saying that this is what our forces are for – to maintain peace.
“We are an army ready for prevention, we are not preparing for any attack and war, but for prevention, we must be strong and strong to prevent anyone who thinks they can repeat 1991 and when we talk concretely about Kosovo, I sincerely hope… also in Bosnia-Herzegovina, that there will be no escalation of the conflict”, stressed Anushiq.
The NATO operation KFOR was established by the resolution of the United Nations Security Council on June 10, 1999, and the main tasks of the members of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Croatia are to prevent the renewal of hostilities, to build a security environment. , to support international humanitarian efforts, to ensure the implementation of related agreements and to support the development of the Kosovo Security Forces.
President Zoran Milanovic was supposed to be at the farewell ceremony for Croatian soldiers, but he canceled his arrival an hour earlier due to “unforeseen obligations”, his office announced. Instead, Milanovic sent his defense counsel Ivica Olujic.
