Everything ready for inauguration of Croatia's first female president

Zagreb, 15 February 2015 (MIA) - The Croatian capital, bathed in the winter sunshine on Sunday morning, is ready for the start of the inauguration of Croatia's fourth president, Kolinda Grabar Kitarovic, who is the first female head of state since the country gained independence.

Grabar-Kitarovic, who won the presidential runoff on 11 January, will be sworn in at the ceremony that starts at noon in on St. Mark's Square, upper town Zagreb.

The inauguration ceremony, to last a little under an hour, will be kicked off by a shot fired from the Gric Cannon at noon and the bells of St. Mark's Church, outside of which the ceremony will take place.

After the Gric Cannon shot, Grabar-Kitarovic will walk onto a stage on St. Mark's Square, accompanied by her husband Jakov and the sound of fanfares, where Constitutional Court judges will be waiting.

She will arrive to the square by funicular and walk down Cirilometodska Street through two rows of citizens and historical military units from all over Croatia.

Following the national anthem, a minute's silence will be observed for those killed in the 1991-95 Homeland War.

After Grabar-Kitarovic is sworn in, signs the presidential oath and receives the presidential sash from Constitutional Court President Judge Jasna Omejec, the Guard of Honour will walk towards the stage and one of the members will walk up carrying the national flag, to which the president will pay her respects, accompanied by ten cannon salutes and a recital of Ivan Gundulic's "Hymn to Freedom.

The president will then deliver a 20-25 minute speech, after which the Croatian Army's wind orchestra will perform Jakov Gotovac's "Ode to the Land". 

Eighty-eight foreign delegation will attend the inauguration.