The Marking of 22nd Anniversary of Operation “Storm”

The ceremony was attended by the President of the Republic of Croatia as Supreme Commander of the Croatian Armed Forces Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović, Prime Minister Andrej Plenković, the Speaker of the Croatian Parliament Gordan Jandroković, the Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Damir Krstičević, the Minister of the Interior Davor Božinović, the Minister of the Homeland War Veterans  Tomo Medved, the Chief of the General Staff of the Croatian Armed Forces General Mirko Šundov, members of the Croatian Parliament, foreign defence attachés accredited to the Republic of Croatia, members of the Croatian Armed Forces, the participants of the Operation “Storm“ and numerous Croatian defenders.
The Croatian President as Supreme Commander of the Croatian Armed Forces, the Speaker of the Croatian Parliament and the Prime Minister laid a wreath at the Monument of the Croatian Victory in the main square of Knin in tribute to all fallen Croatian defenders; followed by the prayer recited by the Military Bishop of Croatia, Mons. Jure Bogdan.

This year’s ceremony was held in the Knin Fortress, starting with the roll of honour of  240 members of the Croatian Army killed or missing in the Operation “Storm“, followed by the chimes commemorating the entry of the Croatian Army in Knin  during the Operation and the hoisting of the Croatian flag on the top of the Fortress , same as as 22 years ago. Furthermore, 22 honorary  volleys  were fired and as many white doves released symbollising freedom and peace . The ceremony was continued with an aerial parade of eight columns with over 20 aircraft, among which the recently introduced Kiowa Warrior helicopters.
President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović expressed gratitude to all participants of the Operation „“Storm“, in particular the soldiers sacrifying their lives for freedom and future. The President stated that togetherness in the Homeland War was the foundation of historic defence and victory but also needs to be the foundation of the future of Croatia.
“Freedom and peace is a gift from the Croatian defenders to the present and future generations of Croatia and all citizens“. The President expressed regret over the victims from all sides and stressed that Croatia had not wanted to go to war and the burdensome historical pages needed to be concluded . “It is now time for economic and demographic recovery of every part of Croatia“.

The Speaker of the Croatian Parliament Gordan Jandroković in his address emphasised that the Croatian people celebrated the Victory Day and Homeland Gratitude Day as a magnificent victory, recalling the moment 22 years ago and the triumphant gesture of the first President of Croatia Franjo Tuđman on  Knin “The victory in Operation “Storm“ showed that Croatia had its armed force. The Croatian state rests on the Homeland War as its foundation:. Today Croatia is faced with new Jandroković. He also added that Croatia today as a free country but faced with significantly changed circumstances and new security threats “ calling for the establishment of the national security system capable of responding to any threats“, said the Speaker.
Prime Minister Andrej Plenković underlined the visionary policy of the first President of Croatia  Franjo Tuđman, the unity of the Croatian people and primarily the sacrifice and patriotism of the Croatian defenders which gained the independence and international recognition and a enabled it become a strong factor of peace and stability in this part of Europe and world.
Croatia is today a member of NATO and the EU, thanks to the magnificient victory in the Homeland War and in the Operation “Storm“.  
The Prime Minister reminded that the Operation “Storm” changed the balance of forces in Bosnia and Herzegovina and was a turning point for Croatia and the entire southeast Europe and will remain the greatest victory in the history of Croatia.  He also underlined that the Croatian Government backed the Operation “Storm“ just as the Croatian defenders defended the country and said that on  5 August the Croatian people celebrated the unity that was the foundation of the  victory.
Prime Minister Plenković also stressed the continuing obligation towards the Croatian defenders and the new Croatian Defenders Act recently endorsed by the Croatian Government , aiming to help enhance their status. which iged all of to continued enhancing of the quality of life of the the Croatian defenders oyment and job creation, economic growth and development as well as through the enhancement of a tolerant and inclusive society. He also expressed satisfaction over the increased defence budget for the current year and in the projections for the next period .

The visitors  were addressed by Nikolina Mataija, the daughter of a fallen Croatian defender, who said that she and other children would keep a lifelong memory of their fathers and had enough “strength to build the country they had dreamt of“.
The visitors  accompanied the ceremonial column of the Croatian Armed Forces, the Ministry of the  Interior, the Croatian defenders and the historical units to the Church of Great Croatian Baptismal Vow,  where a Mass for the Homeland was recited.
The ceremony marking the Victory and Homeland Thanksgiving Day and the Day of Croatian Defenders and the 22nd anniversary of VRO “Storm” featured various ultural and sport events, and a reveille through the streets of Knin; the ceremonial sequence by Honorary Battalion of the Croatian Armed Forces and a musical performance of the Croatian Armed Forces Orchestra; a motorcycle parade , a static display of the weapons and equipment used by the Croatian Armed Forces and a fair of the defenders’ co-operatives, and was concluded by a concert of the band “Prljavo kazalište“.
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