17th anniversary of the Storm Operation

Besides the Croatian war veterans, the disabled and war victims, in Knin were also the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Croatian Armed Forces Ivo Josipović, Prime Minister Zoran Milanović, Deputy Parliament Speaker Josip Leko, ministers and other senior civilian and military officials.
After honouring the fallen soldiers by laying wreaths and lighting candles in front of the Monument of the Croatian Victory “Storm ’95”, the celebration continued at the Knin fortress.

At exactly 9 hours and 43 minutes sounded the church bells, which symbolically marked the moment when, 17 years ago, Croatian Armed Forces entered Knin. Today, 17 years after, the Croatian flag which was held by Sanela Babić, daughter of fallen Croatian defender, Ivan Svalina, father of fallen Croatian defender, and by disabled veterans Damir Kasap, Ante Reljanović, Robert Žgela and Marijan Smernić, was jointly raised by the Croatian defenders Ivan Šantic and Dražen Mikulić. One MIG-21 flyby the Knin fortress and 6 guns fired ten honourable salvos.

The central ceremony was held at Ante Starčević Square near the monument of the Croatian Victory “Storm 95”, where the echelons of Croatian defenders, of the Armed Forces, the police and two echelons of Homeland War units’ flag that participated in the Storm Operation, were ceremonially lined-up. President and Commander-in-Chief of the Croatian Armed Forces inspected the echelons and received submission by the Army Commander Major General Dragutin Repinc.

“This day belongs to you, to Croatian defenders, who with their skills took the highest burden that was imposed on us in the war”, said the Deputy Speaker of the Croatian Parliament Josip Leko, and added that an independent and free Croatia was their creation. He stressed that the victory in the Homeland War was achieved by unity and called for unity for a prosperous Croatia.
Prime Minister Milanović noted that we have been creating the identity and the state for a very long time and paid a high price and that we should be eternally grateful to those who had given even just a little on that path. “Our goal today is strong, stable Croatia, which will be the master of its fate and where around common goals and fundamental values we ​​should be unique”, Milanovic said.
Stressing that the war began because of borders, Milanović said: “Croatian borders will be always defended, knowing where they are and where they belong, as it has been done by every Croatian government since 1990 onwards, and we are united in this”.
Congratulating the Day of Victory and Homeland Gratitude Day and the Day of Croatian Defenders, President Josipović said that the Croatian defenders won in a just and defensive war, a victory for Croatia on which the President was immensely grateful. He stressed that Croatia won the war, but that Croatia still has to win in the peace, which means to overcome economic difficulties, to ensure human rights, religious and national freedom, and the prosperity. “To win in the peace means to reach out to our fellow citizens of Serbian nationality and acknowledge their victims and pay tribute to them.” The President is also sure that Croatia may be victorious in peace, that it can beat the recession, economic crisis and all the tendencies that want to place Croatia out of Europe and European values.

“Operation Storm meant the liberation of the Republic of Croatia and ended the agony for all of us who at that time were in uniform”, said Defence Minister Ante Kotromanović, and assessed this year’s celebration as suitable and appropriate.
High guests also visited the stands where veterans association presented their products.

Upon the celebration of Victory and Homeland Gratitude Day, Day of Croatian defenders and 17^th anniversary of the Storm Operation, the Holly Mass for Homeland was served by the Military Ordinary Juraj Jezerinac in the Church of Our Lady of the Great Croatian Testament.

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