Imra Agotić (12 January 1943 – 18 March 2012) was a

Croatia , image_flag = Flag of Croatia.svg , image_coat = Coat of arms of Croatia.svg , anthem = "Lijepa naša domovino"("Our Beautiful Homeland") , image_map = , map_caption = , capit ...

n general who distinguished himself in the Croatian War of Independence. Agotić was born in

Gorjani Gorjani ( hu, Gara; german: Gerendau, Görrach) is a municipality in Osijek-Baranja County, Croatia. There are 1,550 inhabitants, 97% of whom are Croats (2011 census). Gorjani village was the seat of the House of Garai (Garay). Name The name of ...

and was educated in the

Yugoslav People's Army The Yugoslav People's Army (abbreviated as JNA/; Macedonian and sr-Cyrl-Latn, Југословенска народна армија, Jugoslovenska narodna armija; Croatian and bs, Jugoslavenska narodna armija; sl, Jugoslovanska ljudska ar ...

. In July 1991, as the war started, he was a member of the 5th Corps Counter-intelligence service, and he defected to the fledgling

Croatian National Guard The Croatian National Guard ( hr, Zbor narodne garde or ZNG) was an armed force established by Croatia in April and May 1991 during the Croatian War of Independence. Although it was established within the framework of the Ministry of the Interio ...

, becoming its first commanding officer in August 1991. In October 1991, President Franjo Tuđman promoted him to the rank of

Major General Major general (abbreviated MG, maj. gen. and similar) is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. The disappearance of the "sergeant" in the title explains the apparent confusion of ...

(''general bojnik'') and made him the chief ceasefire negotiator with the Yugoslav People's Army. Agotić fulfilled that role with success up until the final ceasefire was signed in January 1992, and became known to the public. Agotić then became the first commander of the Croatian Air Force and Defence. He remained in charge of the air force, and was promoted to the rank of

Lieutenant General Lieutenant general (Lt Gen, LTG and similar) is a three-star military rank (NATO code OF-8) used in many countries. The rank traces its origins to the Middle Ages, where the title of lieutenant general was held by the second-in-command on the ...

(''general pukovnik'') in 1995. Between 1996 and 2000, he was the assistant commander of the

General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Croatia General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Croatia () is the general staff of the Armed Forces of Croatia, a joint body organized within the Ministry of Defence. It is responsible for development, organization, and equipping, trainin ...

in charge of the air force. In 2000, he was appointed advisor to the

President of Croatia The president of Croatia, officially the President of the Republic of Croatia ( hr, Predsjednik Republike Hrvatske), is the head of state, commander-in-chief of the military and chief representative of the Republic of Croatia both within the ...

for matters of defence and military under

Stjepan Mesić Stjepan "Stipe" Mesić (; born 24 December 1934) is a Croatian lawyer and politician who served as President of Croatia from 2000 to 2010. Before serving two five-year terms as president, he was prime minister of SR Croatia (1990) after the fir ...

. He was promoted to the rank of

General A general officer is an officer of high rank in the armies, and in some nations' air forces, space forces, and marines or naval infantry. In some usages the term "general officer" refers to a rank above colonel."general, adj. and n.". OED ...

(''general zbora'') and retired from active military service in 2002. Between 2003 and 2005 he held the post of national security advisor to the President. In 2003, he testified against Slobodan Milošević at the ICTY. Agotić was decorated with the

Homeland War Memorial Medal The Homeland War Memorial ( hr, Spomenica Domovinskog rata) is a Croatian state medal awarded to both Croatian and foreign citizens who participated in the nation's Croatian War of Independence as a volunteer, part of the Croatian Army and Croat ...

, Homeland Gratitude Medal,

Order of Nikola Šubić Zrinski The Order of Nikola Šubić Zrinski ( hr, Red Nikole Šubića Zrinskog) is the 9th most important medal given by the Republic of Croatia. The order was founded on April 1, 1995. The medal is awarded for a heroic act in war or imminent danger of ...

Order of Ban Jelačić The Order of Ban Jelačić ( hr, Red bana Jelačića) is the 10th most important medal given by the Republic of Croatia. The order was founded on April 1, 1995. The medal is awarded for excellence in the Armed Forces of the Republic of Croatia. It ...

Order of the Croatian Interlace The Order of the Croatian Interlace or Order of the Early Croatian three-strand pattern ( hr, Red hrvatskog pletera) is the seventeenth most important medal given by the Republic of Croatia. The order was founded on 1 April 1995. The medal is aw ...

, as well as medals for

Operation Flash Operation Flash ( sh-Latn-Cyrl, separator=/, Operacija Bljesak, Операција Бљесак) was a brief Croatian Army (HV) offensive conducted against the forces of the self-declared proto-state Republic of Serbian Krajina (RSK) from 1&nda ...

, Operation Summer 95 and

Operation Storm }) was the last major battle of the Croatian War of Independence and a major factor in the outcome of the Bosnian War. It was a decisive victory for the Croatian Army (HV), which attacked across a front against the self-declared proto-state Re ...

. In 2006 he became a member of the Military Decorations and Awards Commission with the Office of the President of Croatia that was in charge of awarding military

decorations and awards Decoration may refer to: * Decorative arts * A house painter and decorator's craft * An act or object intended to increase the beauty of a person, room, etc. * An award that is a token of recognition to the recipient intended for wearing Other ...

, and in 2010 he was named its chairman. He died in

Zagreb Zagreb ( , , , ) is the capital and largest city of Croatia. It is in the northwest of the country, along the Sava river, at the southern slopes of the Medvednica mountain. Zagreb stands near the international border between Croatia and Slov ...

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Agotic, Imra 1943 births 2012 deaths People from Gorjani Croatian army officers Military personnel of the Croatian War of Independence Order of Nikola Šubić Zrinski recipients Officers of the Yugoslav People's Army