Statehood Day awards & decorations of the Republic of Croatia presented

President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović presents the Statehood Day awards and decorations (Photo: Ured Presjednice)

The President of the Republic Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović presented awards and decorations to prominent individuals in all domains of public life on the occasion of Statehood Day this week.

“Your achievements are primarily an expression of patriotism because you have contributed to the enhancement of Croatia’s image, promoted excellence and spread positive values of our society through your work”, the President stated. Furthermore, the presentation of decorations and awards is a token of gratitude and respect for the efforts and self-denial that have yielded results and outstanding achievements of those awarded in a number of domains.

The President mentioned artists and cultural workers, scientists, businesspeople, civil and church associations, and individuals who invest their love, time and energy in unselfish work with children, the elderly, the sick and the disabled, humanitarian workers and athletes. “All these achievements represent a mosaic of who we are, what makes up our overall identity. Because, as I always underline, Croatia’s greatest brand is its people – its citizens”, she noted.

Furthermore, the President said that the main qualities of life in Croatia are a good balance between one’s professional and personal life, ties to the family and to one’s place of origin, community spirit in hard times and humanitarian events as well as the joy generally expressed at sports competitions. “All of the above is self-understood, yet we are not even aware how much these qualities are indeed rare and precious in our contemporary societies”, President Grabar-Kitarović said.

In her message that the human being is the greatest asset of each community and that each one of us in our own way and in our own sphere of activity should contribute to the development of one’s Homeland, President Grabar-Kitarović congratulated all the recipients of the awards, and expressed confidence that these awards will be a motivating factor in their further work.

The President of the Republic presented the following awards:

For outstanding contribution to the independence, integrity and international reputation of the Republic of Croatia, and for the development of relations between the Republic of Croatia and other countries, the Grand Order of King Dmitar Zvonimir with sash and star is awarded to academician Davorin Rudolf.

For outstanding contribution to the maintenance and development of the idea of Croatian statehood and the independence, integrity and international reputation of the Republic of Croatia, the Order of Ante Starčević is awarded to Professor Emeritus Zvonimir Šeparović.

For outstanding contribution to the development of the sovereign Croatian State through longstanding work and creativity on the Croatian music scene, the Order of Ante Starčević is posthumously awarded to Mr. Oliver Dragojević.

For extraordinary service and suffering in the struggle for the national and social rights of the Croatian people and for service in preserving the memorial area of the Italian fascist concentration camp Molat, the Order of Stjepan Radić is awarded to Mr. Boris Baraba.

For extraordinary service in the development of creativity in spiritual music, the Order of the Croatian Star with the Effigy of Marko Marulić is awarded to Mr. Čedomir Antolić on the occasion of 50 years of activity on the Croatian music scene.

For extraordinary contribution to spatial planning and development on a number of projects of special significance for the Republic of Croatia, the Order of the Croatian Star with the Effigy of Marko Marulić is awarded to Mr. Stjepo Butijer.

The Order of the Croatian Star with the Effigy of Marko Marulić is awarded to Mrs. Valentina Fijačko Kobić and Mr. Tomislav Mužek for their outstanding and creative opus in the domain of music.

For outstanding contribution in promoting Croatian science and culture in the Republic of Bulgaria and for the development and promotion of relations between the Republic of Croatia and the Republic of Bulgaria, especially in the domains of culture and education, the Order of the Croatian Star with the Effigy of Marko Marulić is awarded to Mr. Raško Ivanov.

For extraordinarily successful achievements in music and outstanding contribution to the promotion of music in the Republic of Croatia, the Order of the Croatian Star with the Effigy of Marko Marulić is awarded to Mr. Aljoša Jurinić.

For outstanding contribution to the promotion of the status of the Roma national minority in the Republic of Croatia, particularly in the domains of culture, education and sports, the Order of the Croatian Star with the Effigy of Marko Marulić is awarded to Mr. Veljko Kajtazi. 

For extraordinary service in preserving the Croatian music heritage, promoting and affirming young Croatian artists and their promotion in the Republic of Croatia and the world, the Order of the Croatian Star with the Effigy of Marko Marulić is awarded to Mr. Marin Kaporelo.

For outstanding and creative opus in the area of music, pedagogic work with youth and for preserving the Croatian music heritage, the Order of the Croatian Star with the Effigy of Marko Marulić is awarded to Mr. Živko Ključe.

For extraordinary service in culture and its promotion in the Republic of Croatia and in the world, the Order of the Croatian Star with the Effigy of Marko Marulić is awarded to Mr. Juraj Kontent.

For outstanding contribution to the preservation of Croatian cultural heritage, its promotion in the world and work in international cultural cooperation, the Order of the Croatian Star with the Effigy of Marko Marulić is awarded to Mr. Andro Krstulović Opara.

For outstanding work in translation and versatile contribution to the development of Croatian culture and its international reputation, the Order of the Croatian Star with the Effigy of Marko Marulić is awarded to Mr. Mate Maras.

For outstanding music achievements and the promotion of Croatian culture in the world and the realization of cultural cooperation with the People’s Republic of China, the Order of the Croatian Star with the Effigy of Marko Marulić is awarded to Mr. Maksim Mrvica.

For outstanding and creative opus in the domain of theatre and film arts, the Order of the Croatian Star with the Effigy of Marko Marulić is awarded to Mrs. Jelena Miholjević.

For outstanding opus in music and the performing arts achieved in a number of roles in her permanent theatre of Kazalište Komedija, the Order of the Croatian Star with the Effigy of Marko Marulić is awarded to Mrs. Renata Sabljak.

For extraordinary service in culture and the promotion of contemporary Croatian music and creativity through the Music Biennale Zagreb programme, the Order of the Croatian Star with the Effigy of Marko Marulić is awarded to Mr. Krešimir Seletković.

For outstanding opus in music and the performing arts achieved in numerous theater roles and contribution to the development of music, the Order of the Croatian Star with the Effigy of Marko Marulić is awarded to Mr. Đani Stipaničev.

For extraordinary service in the economy, and promoting the regulation of energy activities and the development of the energy sector in the Croatian economy, the Order of the Croatian Star with the Effigy of Blaž Lorković is awarded to Professor Eraldo Banovac, PhD.

For extraordinary service in the economy, the Order of the Croatian Star with the Effigy of Blaž Lorković is awarded to Mr. Josip Lebegner, MSc, and Mr. Kažimir Vrankić, MSc.

For outstanding contribution to the economy, the Order of the Croatian Star with the Effigy of Blaž Lorković is awarded to Željko Pavlin.

For extraordinary service in science, higher education and longstanding systematic scientific research of the values arising from the Homeland War, the Order of the Croatian Star with the Effigy of Ruđer Bošković is awarded to Professor Miljenko Brekalo, PhD.

For extraordinary service in scientific work, popularization of science and attracting international projects, the Order of the Croatian Star with the Effigy of Ruđer Bošković is awarded to Professor Mislav Grgić, PhD.

For outstanding sports achievement and winning the Bronze medal at the XII Winter Paralympic Games in 2018 in South Korea, and extraordinary service in the promotion of sports and the reputation of the Republic of Croatia, the Order of the Croatian Star with the Effigy of Franjo Bučar is awarded to Mr. Bruno Bošnjak.

For outstanding sports achievements in the discipline of freediving and extraordinary service in sports and its promotion in the Republic of Croatia and in the world, the Order of the Croatian Star with the Effigy of Franjo Bučar is awarded to Mr. Goran Čolak.

For outstanding contribution to longstanding humanitarian work and activities, and organizing and providing unselfish assistance to Croats in the Republic of Croatia and beyond, the Order of the Croatian Star with the Effigy of Katarina Zrinska is awarded to Mr. Mato Agatić.

For the realization of the project “Nestali u Domovinskom ratu” [Missing Persons in the Homeland War], thereby acquainting the Croatian and international public with the suffering of families who have been searching for their loved ones for more than a quarter century, the Order of the Croatian Star with the Effigy of Katarina Zrinska is awarded to Mrs. Romana Bilešić and Mrs. Danijela Almaši.

For extraordinary service in social services and the promotion of moral social values in the Republic of Croatia, the Order of the Croatian Star with the Effigy of Katarina Zrinska is awarded to Mr. Natko Gaberc.

For outstanding contribution to the promotion of foster care and work with children without adequate parental care, the Order of the Croatian Star with the Effigy of Katarina Zrinska is awarded to Mrs. Marina Hoblaj.

For extraordinary service in the development and promotion of the pharmaceutical activity, humanitarian work and providing unselfish assistance to citizens in the Republic of Croatia, the Order of the Croatian Star with the Effigy of Katarina Zrinska is awarded to Mr. Mohamed Radwan Joukhadar.

For outstanding contribution to the promotion of the rights and reputation of disabled workers and other disabled persons, and longstanding contribution to sports and recreational sports of persons with disabilities, the Order of the Croatian Star with the Effigy of Katarina Zrinska is awarded to Mr. Josip Petrač.

By a decree of late President Dr. Franjo Tuđman, the Order of the Croatian Star with the Effigy of Katarina Zrinska is awarded to Rev. Ivan Cvitanović posthumously, and to Dr. Slavko Vlašić for extraordinary service in health care, social services and the promotion of moral social values.

For extraordinary service in the Republic of Croatia acquired in the Homeland War and in an immediate war threat, the Order of the Croatian Trefoil is awarded to Mr. Ivan Pavlović.

For extraordinary service in science and the promotion of science in the Republic of Croatia and in the world, the Order of the Croatian Interlace is awarded to Professor Dinko Begušić, PhD, Professor Ante Mihanović, PhD and Professor Igor Jerković, PhD.

For outstanding contribution to the development and reputation of the Republic of Croatia by promoting Croatian Franciscan church music and researching Franciscan heritage and the Croatian literary-historical legacy, the Order of the Croatian Interlace is awarded to Professor Hana Breko Kustura, PhD and Hrvojka Mihanović-Salopek, PhD.

For outstanding contribution to the development and reputation of the Republic of Croatia through a rich spiritual and cultural creativity, the Order of the Croatian Interlace is awarded to Luka Balvan, PhD.

For outstanding contribution to humanitarian work and activities, and for The Order of the Croatian Interlace providing unselfish assistance to the citizens in need of the Republic of Croatia, the Order of the Croatian Interlace is awarded to Mrs. Katrin Bornmüller.

For outstanding contribution to humanitarian work and activities, and for providing unselfish assistance to the citizens in need of the Republic of Croatia, the Order of the Croatian Interlace is awarded to Rev. Marko Bubalo.

For outstanding contribution to the development and reputation of the Republic of Croatia and demonstrated patriotism, and providing unselfish assistance in the Homeland War, the Order of the Croatian Interlace is awarded to Mr. Martin Butigan.

For outstanding contribution to the reputation of the Republic of Croatia in the domain of sports, sports and social activities, the Order of the Croatian Interlace is awarded to Mr. Matija Gubica and Mr. Boris Milošević.

For outstanding contribution to humanitarian work and activities, and for providing unselfish assistance to the Croatian people, the Order of the Croatian Interlace is awarded to Mrs. Ursula Hölz and Mr. Herbert Hölz.

For outstanding contribution to the development of music art and pedagogic work, the Order of the Croatian Interlace is awarded to Mrs. Ivana Husar Mlinac and Mrs. Marija Husar Rimac.

For outstanding achievement and extraordinary service in the cultural domain and its promotion in the Republic of Croatia and in the world, the Order of the Croatian Interlace is awarded to Mrs. Lidija Percan, Mr. Mladen Mordej Vučković, Mr. Davor Schopf and Mr. Mojmir Golemac.

For outstanding contribution to the development and the reputation of the Republic of Croatia through the affirmation of innovative work and innovative entrepreneurship, the Order of the Croatian Interlace is awarded to Mrs. Valentina Sečen.

The Order of the Croatian Interlace for outstanding contribution to the development and the reputation of the Republic of Croatia is awarded to Mr. Ante Tanfara.

The Order of the Croatian Interlace for outstanding contribution to the promotion of moral and social values, longstanding pastoral and social work in the Republic of Croatia and providing unselfish assistance to the citizens in need is awarded to Msgr. Giuseppe Vosilla.

The Charter of the Republic of Croatia for outstanding contribution to the Croatian economy and its promotion in the Republic of Croatia is awarded to Mr. Stjepan Šafran.

For outstanding contribution to the development of high standards of news reporting, Christian principles, openness of cooperation and dialogue in society and promoting the common good in the community, the Charter of the Republic of Croatia is awarded to “Hrvatski katolički radio”.

The Charter of the Republic of Croatia for outstanding and longtime contribution to the promotion of culture and folklore amateurism in the City of Zagreb, in the Republic of Croatia and the world, is awarded to the Croatian folkore society “Prigorec” Markuševec on the occasion of its 95^th anniversary.

For outstanding longtime contribution to the creation of new ideas for promoting and bringing sports closer to the public through the media, the Charter of the Republic of Croatia is awarded to the “Hrvatski zbor sportskih novinara” on the occasion of its 70^th anniversary.

For outstanding contribution to the enhancement of faith, spiritual growth and community spirit and for promoting the common good, the Charter of the Republic of Croatia is awarded to “Kuća susreta Tabor”.

For outstanding contribution to longtime work in preserving and presenting authentic music and linguistic expressions of Istria and Kvarner, the Charter of the Republic of Croatia is awarded to “Melodije Istre i Kvarnera” on the occasion of their 55^th anniversary.

The Charter of the Republic of Croatia is awarded to “Picokijada” for outstanding contribution to the longstanding work in preserving and presenting in a contemporary fashion the nonmaterial cultural historical heritage on the occasion of its 51^st anniversary.

For extraordinary service in sports and its promotion in the Republic of Croatia and in the world, the Charter of the Republic of Croatia is awarded to “Plavoj Laguna – Croatia Open Umag“ on the occasion of the 30^thanniversary of hosting the Umag ATP tournament.

For outstanding and longtime contribution to work in developing Croatian brass music and active work in cultural and folklore amateurism in Primošten and the Republic of Croatia, the Charter of the Republic of Croatia is awarded to the “Puhački orkestar Primošten” on the occasion of its 90^th anniversary.

For longstanding contribution to the development and promotion of the Croatian film creativity and international cultural cooperation, the Charter of the Republic of Croatia is awarded to the Pula Film Festival.

For outstanding and longtime humanitarian work and contribution to the creation of families for children without adequate parental care, the Charter of the Republic of Croatia is awarded to “SOS dječje selo Hrvatska”.

For outstanding and longtime contribution and service in the promotion of culture and cultural development of the Republic of Croatia and Europe, the Charter of the Republic of Croatia is awarded to the Šibenik singing group “Kolo”.

For outstanding service and achievement in promoting scientific and professional work, medical ethics and general moral and humane principles, the Croatian State Award is awarded to the “Hrvatski liječnički zbor” on the occasion of its 145^th anniversary.

(Text/Photo: Ured Presjednice)