The 130-strong 36th Croatian Army Contingent, including six servicewomen, was given a formal send-off on Monday to join NATO's KFOR peacekeeping mission in Kosovo. The media and the Defence Minister were not present at the ceremony.

The ceremony took place in the barracks of the 132nd Croatian Army Brigade in the eastern Croatian town of Nasice without the presence of the media. President Zoran Milanovic attended, as Commander-in-Chief of the Croatian Armed Forces, while Defence Minister Mario Banozic cancelled his attendence.

According to the Ministry, Banozic chose not to come because neither he nor the contingent commander were scheduled to address the ceremony, and the media were not allowed inside to cover the event, per President Milanovic’s instructions.

Although the Ministry’s press office on Sunday invited the media to the send-off, the President’s Office later said that the ceremony “does not envisage the participation of the media,” adding that the public would be informed about the event in a press release which would include photographs.

“The Croatian Army is above all of us politicians. We all come and go, but the Army will be there as long as there is Croatia. I did not go to Nasice for the send-off ceremony because I wanted no part in a show by the gentleman who unfortunately does not understand the first two sentences in this post. I wish the members of the 36th Croatian Contingent a safe journey and a successful mission. See you soon,” Banozic wrote on Facebook.

Although the Ministry’s press office on Sunday invited the media to cover the event, the President’s Office later said that the ceremony “does not envisage the participation of the media,” adding that the public would be informed about the event in a press release which would include photographs.

Representatives of the media gathered outside of the barracks gate on Monday morning, but were denied entry.

The President’s Office said that the sole purpose of the send-off ceremony was to show the Commander-in-Chief, military commanders, and the Defence Minister the contingent’s preparedness for the mission. “Such an important event for the military cannot and will not be used for anyone’s daily political interests,” the Office said.