20th Anniversary of Plitvice action

Besides family members of Josip Jovic, the first victim in the war was paid tribute by the state delegations, representatives of county and local governments and many veterans’ associations.

Wreaths at the monument were laid by President of the Republic of Croatia Ivo Josipovic and Deputy Parliament Speaker Ivan Jarnjak with delegations and ministers of Internal Affairs Tomislav Karamarko and the Family, Veterans and Intergenerational Solidarity Tomislav Ivic, representative of the Minister of Defence, Chief of General Staff Lieutenant General Drago Lovric, and many other delegations. In their speeches to the present they all emphasized the size of the first victim of Croatian policemen and the importance of preserving the value of the Homeland war, as well as memories of all Croatian victims. President and Commander in Chief of the Croatian Armed Forces Ivo Josipovic in his address said that “when future generations will read the Croatian history, they will know for this action, for Josip Jovic and the fact that a small nation knew how to defend their freedom and build their own state”, and remembered thousands of veterans who were not reluctant to sacrifice to create a state. “It is crisis, there are those today who doubt that Croatia will complete negotiations with the European Union and get out of the economic crisis. I’m sure we can get out of the economic crisis and end the negotiations, and I am sure that every year on this site and others that are a symbol of the Homeland War we will be able to proudly say that Croatia has made another step toward to what Josip Jovic and other Croatian war veterans dreamed”, said President Josipovic.
Chief of General Staff Lieutenant General Drago Lovric welcomed the present on behalf of the Minister of Defence Davor Bozinovic. In his address, he said that on this day 20 years ago were written foundations of the modern Croatian history and foundations of future defence forces. Our armed forces entered a part of their history and heritage in the Euro-Atlantic integrations, but also the rich experience from the Homeland war and the values ​​that were embedded in the defence system, General Lovric said, noting that today, Croatian soldiers and police officers actively contribute to the preservation of peace throughout the world.
Gathering at Plitvice ended with prayer, led by the Military Ordinary Bishop Juraj Jezerinac. Organized by a special police unit “Grom”, the commemoration was also attended by ultra-marathoners, which in memory of Josip Jovic ran 97 km from Karlovac to Plitvice lakes.