Commemoration of 25 anniversary of liberation of Dubrovnik region

The formal ceremony marking the military and police operations liberating Dubrovnik and the southernmost part of Croatia was held on its jubilary 25th anniversary (29 October 2017), in the presence of top state officials and civilian visitors.

The victorious operations concluded the six-month period of combat and a one-year occupation of the southernmost Croatia, restoring it under the constitutional order of the Republic of Croatia and enabling over 20,000 exiled persons to return to their homes. The Croatian Army and police forces liberated 1,210 km2 of land and 1,080 km2 of maritime surface, reached the internationally recognised borders and established a firm 105-km defensive cordon, comprising over 120 dominant fortified heights, safe against the enemy attacks for the rest of the Homeland War.

The ceremony marking the important anniversary was attended by the President of the Republic of Croatia as Supreme Commander of the Croatian Armed Forces, Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović, the Deputy Prime Minister (as Envoy of the Prime Minister) and Defence Minister Damir Krstičević, the Envoy of the Speaker of the Croatian Parliament and a Parliament member Branko Bačić, the Minister of the Homeland War Veterans Tomo Medved, the Minister of the Interior Davor Božinović, the Chief of the General Staff of the Croatian Armed Forces, General Mirko Šundov, the official representatives of the Town of Dubrovnik and the Dubrovnik- Neretva County, the participants of the liberating operations and others.
The respects to the fallen members was paid by laying wreaths and lighting the candles at the central cross in the Boninovo Cemetery, and a wreath laid from a missile boat into the sea in front of the Fort Lovrjenac. The Chairman of the Croatian Bishops’ Conference (and the wartime Bishop of Dubrovnik) Mons Želimir Puljić, the Military Ordinary Mons Jure Bogdan and the present Bishop of Dubrovnik, Mons Mato Uzinić recited a solemn mass in the Dubrovnik Cathedral.
Twelve columns of the Croatian Armed Forces, among whom a column of the liberating units’ flags (a total of 400 members) marched from the Dubrovnik Cathedral to the port Gruž, where the formal line up took place.

The overflight by two MiGs in honour to the fallen Croatian defenders introduced the central commemorating eventheld in the Gruž Port. The short historical account reminded the visitors of the crucial years and the historic line-up in the presence of the first Croatian President Franjo Tuđman, the wartime Defence Minister Gojko Šušak and the Commander of the South Battlefield, General Janko Bobetko.

The President of the Republic asked the visitors to pay respects to all known and unknown heroes of the liberating operations, headed by the first Croatian President Franjo Tuđman.
“The Croatian leadership pinned their faith and hope into the Croatian soldiers, in pursuit of the highest moral goals although under-equipped, and they justified the trust. The Croatian soldiers displayed their abilities, determination and unity in the defence of the homeland. It was togetherness that saved us during the Homeland War, the unity of all parts of Croatia has to remain our perennial imperative; and the days of pride and glory must be guarded as the foundation of our freedom“, stated the President.
The Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Damir Krstičević forwarded the Prime Minister’s congratulations to the victorious Croatian forces on the 25 th Anniversary of the liberation of the southernmost part of Croatia. “The key to our victory were the Croatian defenders, under the resolute leadership of the first Croatian President Franjo Tuđman and the Commander of the South Dalmatian Battlefield, General Janko Bobetko. You won the victory and freedom, and deserved our gratitude; you enabled the magnificient victory, combating on this unhospitable karsty terrain, and building and asserting the victorious character of the Croatian Army and police“ , stated the Minister, and asked Major General (Ret.) Nojko Marinković, the Deputy Commander of the South Dalmatian Battlefield, who commanded the defence of Dubrovnik, to address the audience too.
Major General Marinović recalled the importance of the liberating operations and units, and concluded that “A state built and led by heart and wisdom had a promise of a bright future“.

The Envoy of the Speaker of the Parliament, Branko Bačič (MP) extended the congratulations on his behald and the gratitude to all participants of the liberating operations for the evinced readiness to sacrifice for the benefit of the people, the homeland and freedom.
The Chief of the General Staff of the Croatian Armed Forces, General Mirko Šundov stated that the liberation day was observed to commemorate “the courage and the valour, the determination and togetherness under the leadership of the first President of Croatia, Franjo Tuđman. The liberation of Dubrovnik proved that nothing beats the hearts of the defenders defending their homes and the homeland “, said General Šundov.
The wartime events in Dubrovnik and its hinterland in autumn 1991 were recounted by the Mayor of Dubrovnik Mato Franković and the Prefect of the Dubrovnik-Neretva County Nikola Dobroslavić, who stressed that Dubrovnik defied and survived the attacks by the aggressor: both officials expressed gratitude tp the defenders, members of the guards brigades and all other participants of the defence of the town.
The General Police Director Nikola Milin recalled the role of the police in the operations and stated that “the immense patriotism constitutes a lasting legacy to build our society and future upon“.

The formal commemorative programme conducted in the Gruž Port was opened with an eye-catching flying sequence of the “Wings of Storm“ Aerobatic Team.
The Orchestra of the Croatian Armed Forces and the Croatian Navy’s Vocal Ensemble held a concert in front of the Church of St. Blaise on the eve of the ceremony, while a static display was staged on the occasion in Gruž, showcasing the weapons and equipment used by all services of the Croatian Armed Forces, the Ministry of the Interior and the Croatian Firefighter Association.

The Croatian Army displayed the VHS-D2 and VHS-K2 assault rifles, the armoured personnel carriers – Patria, MRAP MaxxPro, MRAP M-ATV, the M-84 Tank, the self-propelled multiple rocket launcher M-92 “VULKAN”, the thEODor demining machines, missile anti-armour systems, the SKYLARK UAV and the 120 mm/82 mm mortars.
The Croatian Navy exposed the RBS-15B anti-ship missile, a rocket battery (MOL) and the REMUS autonomous underwater vehicle. It also admitted the visitors to tour the missile boats “Vukovar” and “Dubrovnik” missile boats , the landing craft-minelayer “Cetina”, the LM-51 “Korčula” minehunter, the SB-73 “Faust Vrančić” salvage ship and the “Novigrad” patrol ship.
The Croatian Air Force and Air Defence exposed the OH-58D Kiowa Warrior helicopters.
In addition to these, the visiting citizens could see the uniforms worn by the members of the Croatian Armed Forces in-country and abroad, as well as the equipment used by the special and intervention police forces and the firefighter vehicles.