Commemoration of the 19th anniversary of the Operation “Lightning”

attended by the President of the Republic as Supreme Commander of the Croatian Armed Forces, the Prime Minister, Zoran Milanović, the Speaker of the Croatian Parliament, Josip Leko, the Deputy Defence Minister, Višnja Tafra, the Chief of the General Staff of the Croatian Armed Forces, General Drago Lovrić, other ministers of the Croatian Government and members of the Parliament, defenders and the family members of the fallen defenders, and other senior military and civilian officials.
The minute of silence was observed, and wreaths laid at the Central Cross in the Croatian War Veterans Memorial Park at the Okučani graveyard.
«We are commemorating a victorious operation of the Homeland War and the defence of Croatia’s freedom, democracy and the state», said President Josipović, who extended gratitude to all Croatian defenders, paying special respects to those who sacrified their lives. The President underlined his confidence in good prospects for Croatia and appealed for optimism.
“This is a highly important date for Croatia. The Operation “Lightning” is an achievement we are proud of, and we remain obliged to all those who gave their contribution”, said the Prime Minister Milanović.
The Military and Police Operation “Lightning” was launched on 1 May 1995, liberating some 500 km2 of West Slavonia and unblocking the Zagreb-Lipovac motorway within a 31- hour span.  It engaged 32 units of the Croatian Armed Forces and the Ministry of the Interior; 42 defenders lost their lives and 162 were wounded. 
The Speaker of the Croatian Parliament, Josip Leko, emphasised the Operation demonstrating the determination of Croatian military to liberate the entire territory of Croatia. «Nineteen years on, the Operation «Lightning» continues to hold a special place in the hearts and minds of Croatian citizens», said the Speaker.
The Minister of Croatian Homeland War Veterans, Predrag Matić, reminded of the Operation as one of the major liberating operations by the Croatian military and police.
The Chief of the General Staff, General Drago Lovrić, emphasised his sense of pride in all the members of the Croatian Armed Forces participating in the Operation -“the Croatian Armed Forces in 1995 were ready to liberate our Homeland, same as today they are ready to guarantee its safety entirely”. 

The memorial service for the fallen defenders and civilians in the Homeland War was held in  Saint Vitus’ Church in Okučani, by the Bishop of Požega, Msgr. Antun Škvorčević, who said that the defenders should be kept in lasting memory and regard for their noble patriotism.
The Croatian Armed Forces’ Honorary Battalion displayed an eye-catching ceremonial programme, and Croatian defenders participated in the sport competitions at the County level, organised by the Croatian Homeland War Volunteer Association of the Brod-Posavina County.
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