Croatian President Awards Statehood Day Honours

Statehood Day honours (Photo: Ured Predsjednice)

The President of the Republic Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović presented awards and decorations to prominent individuals in the domain of social activities and humanities on the occasion of Statehood Day.

“The awards that are presented to you today represent an exceptional contribution with your lives and your work, and particularly with your personal commitment to promoting humanities and social values in a number of domains of public life: the economy, science, culture and arts, in the promotion of the rights of Croatian defenders and their families, in health care, sports and tourism, in preserving the national identity of the Croatian diaspora, in firefighting, protection and rescue”, the President stated.

The President described artists and cultural workers as bearers of all-embracing social and spiritual values who, with their talents, creativity and zeal for their work often substitute the insufficient funds invested in culture. She also referred to the fires and floods and highlighted the readiness and the dedication of brave people who work in lifesaving and care services and who are always there when we need them the most.

“Every society shows its maturity by the care it provides to its most vulnerable groups, children and patients, individuals with special needs, as well as young people without proper parental care. They are cared for by noble individuals who shine with the warmth of their humanity and institutions that provide shelter, care, top medical assistance and warm words. For this, we are extremely grateful to them”, said President Grabar-Kitarović.

Speaking about Croatian athletes, the Croatian President remarked that they are our ambassadors because they represent Croatia as a country of sports and devoted fans. “Croats in Croatia and abroad are equally proud of them because even on faraway continents the Croatian people retain and nurture their identity. I thank all those who are working to preserve it under various circumstances and conditions”, she noted.

“Each one of us must, in a unique way and within their field, contribute to the development of their Homeland, as did all of you who will today receive the decorations of the Republic of Croatia. I always say that our Homeland has outstanding people whose valuable work is often not visible in public. That is why we emphasize, through these decorations, that their efforts are being recognized as strong foundations for the successful development of society and the common good”, said the Croatian President, adding that it is necessary to pay tribute to the most successful and devoted individuals because they are the ones who are spreading creativity, optimism and the type of confidence that is especially needed in our modern society.

The President of the Republic presented the following awards:

For continued study of the Croatian linguistic identity and culture and exceptionally valuable contribution to Croatian and world linguistics, academic Radovan Katičić is awarded the Order of Prince Branimir with Ribbon.

The Order of Petar Zrinski and Fran Krsto Frankopan with gilded Croatian interlace, as an honourable sign of the lasting memory of individuals killed in the humanitarian demining of the Republic of Croatia following acts of war, is bestowed posthumously upon Dražen Aleksić, Antun Alošinac, Ivan Jurić and Vilson Kulaš.

For outstanding contribution to Croatian culture, and especially for enriching the art of the Croatian word in the Republic of Croatia and in the world, academic Luko Paljetak is awarded the Order of Ante Starčević.

For contribution and exceptional successful promotion of the international status and reputation of the Republic of Croatia in science, education and politics, the Order of Ante Starčević is awarded to Professor Dragan Primorac PhD. For extraordinary contribution to the establishment of the contemporary Croatian State with longstanding cultural creativity and development of theatre arts, the Order of Ante Starčević is awarded to Rene Medvešek.

The Order of the Croatian Star with the Effigy of Marko Marulić for extraordinary service in culture and its promotion in the Republic of Croatia and in the world is awarded to Full Professor of Arts Jože Haluza.

The Order of the Croatian Star with the Effigy of Marko Marulić is awarded to Joško Ćaleta PhD, for extraordinary contribution and service in the promotion of Croatian traditional culture; to Iva Babaja, for extraordinary service in culture, and exceptional contribution to representing design and the profession of design and its promotion in the Republic of Croatia and in the world; to Markita Franulić, for extraordinarily successful longstanding activities in the field of museology, and extraordinary contribution to linking science and arts; to Franjo Marić, for extraordinary service in culture in the literary domain and the preservation of the identity of Croats in the territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina and their longstanding promotion in the Republic of Croatia; and to Nikolina Jelavić-Mitrović for extraordinary service in culture, and outstanding contribution to presenting the profession of design and its promotion in the Republic of Croatia and in the world.

For extraordinary service in the economy, and outstanding contribution to the development of economic relations between the Republic of Croatia and other countries, the Order of the Croatian Star with the Effigy of Blaž Lorković is awarded to Luka Burilović. Moreover, the Order of the Croatian Star with the Effigy of Blaž Lorković for extraordinary service in the economy and outstanding contribution to the development of economic relations between the Republic of Croatia and other countries is awarded to Darinko Bago, Đuro Horvat, Dragutin Kamenski and Antun Marodi.

The Order of the Croatian Star with the Effigy of Katarina Zrinska, for extraordinary service in the advancement of health care and social services, and outstanding longtime contribution to providing assistance to children and youth is awarded to Assistant Professor Boro Nogalo PhD, Jasna Ćurković Kelava and Renato Mittermayer.

The Order of the Croatian Star with the Effigy of Katarina Zrinska, for extraordinary service in health care and social services and humanitarian work among Croatian 100% disabled war veterans from the Homeland War is awarded to Ljerka Pavić, and for extraordinary service in firefighting and longstanding continuous humanitarian activities in fire protection and lifesaving and saving of property and on the occasion of the 140^th anniversary of the foundation and activities of the Croatian Firefighting Association is awarded to Vinko Pošta.

For extraordinary service and contribution to the development of the civil defense system in the Republic of Croatia, the Order of the Croatian Trefoil is awarded to Josip Sajko.

Dubravka Brezak Stamać PhD, Lidija Nikočević PhD, Tvrtko Zebec PhD and Hrvoje Špicer are awarded the Order of the Croatian Interlace, for outstanding achievements and services in the field of culture and for their extraordinary contribution to the development and reputation of the Republic of Croatia.

Slaven Bačić PhD and Tomislav Žigmanov are awarded the Order of the Croatian Interlace for their extraordinary contribution to the promotion of Croatian heritage, language, culture and education, and the development and reputation of the Republic of Croatia through the work and activities of the Croatian community in the Republic of Serbia.

Silvestar Doroghazi and Ivan Vukman are awarded the Order of the Croatian Interlace for their extraordinary contribution to the development and reputation of the Republic of Croatia and the well-being of its citizens.

Dina Levačić is awarded the Order of the Croatian Interlace for outstanding sports and humanitarian undertakings through the promotion of long-distance swimming and for contributing to the promotion of sports, and the reputation of the Republic of Croatia in the world, and Tin Srbić is awarded the Order of the Croatian Interlace for an outstanding sports achievement and winning the gold medal at the World Gymnastics Championships in Montreal, as well as for contributing to the promotion of sports and the reputation of the Republic of Croatia in the world.

Marin Skenderović is awarded the Order of the Croatian Interlace for his outstanding contribution in strengthening the reputation of the Republic of Croatia and in preserving the Croatian identity and cultural tradition of the Croatian community in Hungary. Petar Vitas is awarded the Order of the Croatian Interlace for his extraordinary contribution to the development and reputation of the Republic of Croatia and the well-being of its citizens.

Klapa Trogir is awarded the Charter of the Republic of Croatia, for an extraordinary contribution in the promotion of the Dalmatian klapa singing during its exceptionally successful continuous longstanding activity, especially for its impeccable musical expression and artistic suggestiveness in performing songs, and for the promotion of klapa singing in the Republic of Croatia.

Klapa Cesarice is awarded the Charter of the Republic of Croatia for its extraordinary contribution in the promotion of Dalmatian klapa singing and unique musical expression, on the occasion of the 25^th anniversary of exceptionally successful work.

The Association Humane Stars of Croatia ’03 is awarded the Charter of the Republic of Croatia for its outstanding and altruistic contribution to humanitarian activities, particularly for providing assistance to children and youth in need. The Student Cultural and Artistic Association “Ivan Goran Kovačić” is awarded the Charter of the Republic of Croatia for its outstanding and longtime contribution in the promotion of culture and folklore in the Republic of Croatia and the world, on the occasion of the 70^th anniversary.

The Croatian Club “August Šenoa” is awarded the Charter of the Republic of Croatia for its outstanding and longtime contribution in the promotion of Croatian heritage, language, education, culture and folklore, and the preservation of Croatian identity in Hungary. The First Croatian Choral Society “Zora” is awarded the Charter of the Republic of Croatia for its special contribution in the promotion of choir singing, on the occasion of its 160^th anniversary since establishment and continuous successful activity.

The Croatian Cultural Association is awarded the Charter of the Republic of Croatia for its extraordinary contribution in the promotion of cultural-artistic amateur creativity in the Republic of Croatia, on the occasion of its 70^th anniversary since establishment.