Josipović posthumously decorated brave Sarajevan Fadil Pugonja

Croatian President Ivo Josipović posthumously decorated the brave deminer Fadil Pugonja from Sarajevo with the Order of Petar Zrinski and Fran Krsto Frankopan. This is the highest recognition Croatia awards to those killed and missing in the Homeland War, reports the BiH news agency Patria (NAP).

Raza Pugonja, Fadil Pugonja's wife, told NAP that her husband, out of a total of 37 decorated individuals, was the only foreign citizen to receive this important recognition at the Croatian Presidency on March 18 this year.

- The decoration means the most to my 12-year-old son. He was only four months old when his father lost his life. He didn't even remember him. He now holds the Order of Petar Zrinski and Fran Krsto Frankopan in his hands. He proudly tells everyone how brave and important his father was – Raza told NAP.

Fadil Pugonja lost his life in November 2001 near Petrinja in Croatia, while professionally demining the area of mines left over from the war in Croatia. He was only 27 years old.

- 12 years have passed since that accident, and the Croatian government has made great efforts to reach me. They even had to involve the police, who were looking for me. I thank them for that. I am very proud – Raza told NAP.

The Order of Petar Zrinski and Fran Krsto Frankopan is an order of Croatia that ranks tenth in the order of importance of Croatian decorations.