Press conference held on activities in Knin on 4 and 5 August 2011

Admiral Zdenko Simicic in his address said that the anniversary has been organized in collaboration of three ministries, the Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Family, Veterans and Intergenerational Solidarity and the Ministry of Interior. He said that on the occasion of the sixteenth anniversary sixteen echelons with more than 1200 members of the Croatian Armed Forces, veterans and members of the Ministry of Interior will line up at the city stadium “Dinara” in Knin. Admiral Simicic also noted that for the first time it will be presented the echelon of the EU battle groups in which Croatia participates to accomplish the task and mission of the Common Security and Defence Policy. “As part of the EU battle groups echelon, Patria armoured fighting vehicles, HMMV vehicles, which have been already in use in the ISAF mission in Afghanistan, communication, military police and NBC vehicles will be presented”, Rear Admiral Simicic said. Finally he stressed that “The Armed Forces were proud that this year also they can magnify the celebration of exceptional military operation Storm”, and thanked the town of Knin for the help and support in the organization.

The Commander of the Guards Motorised Brigade, Brigadier General Mladen Fuzul presented a plan of activities in Knin on 4 and 5 of August. Referring to the active engagement of the CAF in the EU battle groups, he said that members of the Armed Forces in the first half of this year participated in the Nordic battle group, and that in the second half of 2012 it was planned the participation of the CAF members in the EU battle group in which the lead nation will be Germany. He said that this year’s planned combat training will be primarily focused on stability and support operations. “Involvement of the Croatian Armed Forces in the EU battle groups, is the contribution that Croatia gives to the EU Common security and defence policy, especially when we are expecting to soon become a full EU member”, General Fuzul said, adding that the CAF echelons would be primarily focused on the display of our members in international military operations, but also that he was very proud of the echelons of Croatian veterans and police forces that have made the greatest contribution to our victory in the Homeland War.

Mayor of Knin Josipa Rimac has presented a program marking the anniversary which already started at the end of July. As the central event she emphasized the unveiling of the monument “Croatian Victories – Storm 95” in the centre of Knin in honour of all Croatian defenders. She stressed that this monument had listed all units that participated in the Storm Operation, as well as significant operations that were performed by the Croatian army. “This monument represents the art, architecture and history of Croatia merged into one”, Rimac said. In the end she invited all citizens of Knin and Croatia to come to Knin to jointly celebrate the Victory and Homeland Gratitude Day, Day of Croatian soldiers and 16^th Anniversary of “Storm Operation”.