A ceremonial programme was held in Zadar and its hinterland to mark the 32nd anniversary of the military and police operation Maslenica 1993, a crucial action in the Homeland War that played a decisive role in liberating the occupied areas of Croatia and establishing the connection between the north and south of the country.<\/p>\n
Anu\u0161i\u0107: The Croatian Armed Forces grew into a much stronger military force<\/strong><\/p>\n Croatian Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Ivan Anu\u0161i\u0107, emphasized that the military and police operation Maslenica was one of the first major operations of the Croatian Armed Forces, which proved that the Croatian Armed Forces, just two years later, were ready to conduct the largest operations of the Homeland War \u2013 Operations Bljesak and Oluja.<\/p>\n “It was quite clear that in the Operation Maslenica, we successfully demonstrated the organization, readiness, and strength of the Croatian Armed Forces. Afterward, the Croatian Armed Forces grew into a much stronger military force. In 1995, in the military and police operation Oluja, the CAF liberated the occupied territories of Croatia from Serbian aggressors. Glory to all those who gave their lives in the Operation Maslenica,” said Minister Anu\u0161i\u0107, who volunteered to participate in the 1993 operation.<\/p>\n Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Croatian War Veterans Tomo Medved said that the Operation<\/strong><\/p>\n Maslenica, conducted in January 1993, sent a key message from Zadar and its hinterland to the Croatian people \u2013 that the Croatian defence forces were capable of liberating every inch of their country. At the same time, the Operation sent a clear message to the enemy that the Croatian Armed Forces had grown into a strong military force able to defend and liberate its country.<\/p>\n “By liberating the Maslenica Gorge, placing a pontoon bridge, and later constructing a permanent bridge, an unhindered passage was created between the north and south of our country. These are the achievements we remember. We mark this anniversary, and it will be marked by generations to come to ensure that the courage, heroism, and sacrifices made by our war veterans and by our people during the Greater Serbian aggression are never forgotten,” Minister Medved said.<\/p>\n