Formal marking of 26th anniversary of Operation “Maslenica”
The 26th anniversary of the Operation “Maslenica” – the first major liberating operation by the Croatian Army and police was marked formally in Zadar on 21 January 2019.
The Operation was a turning point of the Homeland War – in the course of 72 hours all services of then Croatian Army liberated nearly 100 km 2of thereto occupied territory.
The Operation reconnected Dalmatia with the rest of Croatia and was of critical importance for further military operation of the Croatian Army.
The marking of the historic Operation commenced with reveille songs performed in the streets of Zadar; the respects were paid at the central cross at the Zadar Cemetery.
The wreath on behalf of the Republic of Croatia was laid hy the Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Damir Krstičević and by Lieutenant General Ante Gotovina (Ret.) as Envoy of the President of the Republic of Croatia as Supreme Commander, Major General Miljenko Filipović as Envoy of the Speaker of the Croatian Parliament, by the Minister of Homeland War Veterans Tomo Medved and the Chief of the General Staff of the Croatian Armed Forces General Mirko Šundov.
Wreaths were also laid by the representatives of the counties, towns and municipalities and the representatives of the Croatian defenders association and of the associations from the Homeland War. The respects were also paid at the memorial monument to the 3rd Battalion of the 4th Guards Brigade “Imotski sokolovi”, and at the memorial monument to the fallen defenders of the Zadar County.
Defence Minister Damir Krstičević expressed gratitude to the defenders and fellow combatants for the successfully conducted operation and the sacrifice made for the homeland.
The Operation “Maslenica” was a strategic moment in the Homeland War – it demonstrated the achieved level of organisation and equippedness that enabled the Croatian Army to conduct complex military operations; we also showed the world our ability to liberate the occupied territory and helped the Croatian government consolidate the political position.
The Operation also strengthened the faith of our defenders and the entire Croatian people of the victorious esprit of the Croatian Army, the unity and the readiness to bring the Homeland War to end and liberate Croatia“.
The Operation “Maslenica” was the first liberating operation of the Croatian Army, launched with the objective of reconnecting north and south Croatia and pushing further the aggressor forces which held Zadar, Biograd, Šibenik and other coastal places under the arms.
We are today commemorating with deep gratitude and respect the young people who sacrified their lives in “Maslenica” and in the Homeland War and won independence, security and freedom led by strong confidence in themselves and their abilities.
The Minister of Homeland War Veterans Tomo Medved shared his pride over the success of the Operation “Maslenica”, which was of huge importance for Zadar, and which conveyed a strong message to the Croatian people and the international community of the capability of the Croatian Army to liberate the entire territory of the Croatia eventually.