16th Anniversary of Storm Operation

And this year’s ceremony in Knin has been enhanced by the highest state and military leadership, President of the Republic of Croatia Ivo Josipovic, Speaker of the Croatian Parliament Luka Bebic, Prime Minister Jadranka Kosor, ministers of Defence and Interior Davor Bozinovic and Tomislav Karamarko and Minister of Family, Veterans and Intergenerational Solidarity Tomislav Ivic , CAF Chief of General Staff Lieutenant General Drago Lovric, deputy PMs and deputy Parliament speakers, ministers, MPs, military attaches, representatives of county and city and Croatian war veterans and participants of the Storm Operation. This year’s marking of Storm Operation, which for the Croatian people symbolizes the invincibility of the Croatian spirit and firmness of Croatian defenders, had another dimension, the celebration was in the spirit of the completion of negotiations for Croatian accession to the European Union, for which the most credit have the Croatian veterans to whom Croatia owes its freedom and independence.

The parade of echelons of veterans’ associations from the Homeland war, the wartime flag echelon and echelons of the military and police forces, accompanied by a military orchestra as well as each year started from “Kralj Zvonimir” Barracks and passed through the town and with the sounds of military marches solemnly lined up at the city stadium. Besides sixteen echelons in which were over 1200 members of the Croatian Armed Forces, veterans and members of the police, this year at the central ceremony was also the echelon of the CAF EU battle group with twelve Patria combat armoured vehicles and four HMMWV vehicles, which have been already used in the ISAF operation in Afghanistan, communication vehicles, military police and NBC vehicles.

The report to the Commander in Chief of the Croatian Armed Forces and President of the Republic of Croatia Ivo Josipovic was given by Deputy Chief of General Staff for Operations Admiral Zdenko Simicic. Chief of General Staff Lieutenant General Drago Lovric initially briefly recalled on the implementation of Storm Operation, which was rated as the pinnacle of the art of war, calling for the storm of the winning spirit of Croatian soldiers to live forever, followed by the attractive performance of Honorary Battalion.
In their speeches, the highest state officials emphasized the size and significance of the Storm Military Operation and the historical role of the first Croatian President Franjo Tudjman.

At the beginning of her address the Prime Minister Jadranka Kosor sent a special greeting to all Croatian defenders and Croatian generals, and especially generals Ante Gotovina and Mladen Markac. “Without Storm and commanders who led the operation, we would not be here today and we would have nothing to celebrate. The truth is only one, Storm was victorious and honourable, it is a tribute to Vukovar, Skabrnja, Dubrovnik…, it is a tribute to exiles, a tribute to Croatia. We will never accept that we are resented for our victory, because those were the victories of democracy and freedom,” said the Prime Minister and stressed that Croatia was now the European country.

She recalled on the historical raising of the Croatian flag at the fortress 16 years ago and on President Franjo Tudjman, emphasizing that without defenders who responded to his call there would be no dream that has been made reality, free and independent Croatian state. “Thanks to the Croatian war veterans, today we decide on our own about our future, because of them we do not have the right to be indecisive. As we knew at the beginning the same we know now to answer the challenges by winning,” said the PM.

On behalf of the Croatian Parliament Speaker Luka Bebic has sent greetings to veterans inviting everyone to never forget our victories. They have been a solid foundation for the future of our young generations, Bebic said.
Congratulations to the defenders at the end sent the Commander in Chief of the Croatian Armed Forces and President Ivo Josipovic who on this occasion particularly stressed the sacrifice of fallen veterans and civilians who have by their loyalty contributed to their homeland. “Storm was the crown of a fight for the free and democratic Croatia. Thanks to the victorious Storm, Croatia belongs to a free and prosperous world, and responsibly participate in international missions. Storm was meant to lay the foundations of a country that we always wanted and willingness to sacrifice and belief in the future is what we must inherit from the Croatian war veterans,” the President said.

The ceremony at the stadium was completed by flying program, which was performed by the Air Force “Wings of Storm” acrobatic group. After the ceremony at the city stadium high dignitaries attended a service for a Homeland in the church of Our Lady of the Great Croatian Vow served by the Military Ordinary Monsignor Juraj Jezerinac.