President Milanović in Oklaj: We are moving forward, we have our state thanks to our defenders
The President of the Republic Zoran Milanović visited the community of Oklaj in the Municipality of Promina, on the occasion of commemorating the fallen defenders and civilians of the Promina area in the Homeland War and on the 138th anniversary of the Municipality’s establishment. President Milanović met in Oklaj with Šibenik-Knin County Prefect Marko Jelić and the Head of the Municipality of Promina Tihomir Budanko. Accompanied by his hosts, the President visited the memorial room in the Municipality of Promina administration building.
After holding the meetings and visiting the memorial room, the President of the Republic laid a wreath at the central cross in Oklaj in memory of the fallen defenders and civilians of the Promina area in the Homeland War and attended a commemoration in the community cultural centre.
In his remarks at the commemoration, President Milanović greeted everyone who was present, particularly addressing the mothers and fathers and close relatives of the Croatian defenders and civilians who were killed in the war.
“Today, I came here to repeat some things in order for them to become more ingrained in me and for Croatia to hear them more often because 26 years have passed since Operation Storm. It’s time to draw the line on what we have understood, what we have accepted and what we agree on. Everyone should come and see the faces, years of birth and death of the people in the memorial room, they were mostly civilians. These people were killed by someone, most of them in 1993 on their doorstep at the moment when they thought they were safe. They did not want to leave this area. They stayed in their homes. The attack on them, their lives, bodies and property broke the smallest chalice of fundamental human trust. As a man, a President, lastly as a Croat, I would expect those who represent the Serb community in Croatia to show that kind of empathy. I expect that more than for them to attend Operation Storm celebrations because this event today is not a celebration – it is grieving, it is a sad moment. The main reason and the foundation for our gathering here are the people who were killed, mostly the elderly and children,” said the President.
President Milanović also touched on a different topic having to do with the absorption of EU funds. “You are successful in withdrawing European funds, or taking European funds to put it better. It is our money and in fact the true measure of our success. Every kuna and every euro that the Croatian Government and Croatian citizens give for the construction of schools and public institutions is an unnecessary waste of money, all this should be taken from the European Union,” said the President of the Republic.
“We are fighting for our rights and our material interests. I believe that we will live more normally, more beautifully with our neighbours across the Croatian state border and with our neighbours here, and have more in common and less that separates us. We are moving forward, we have our state thanks to our defenders above all. Happy Municipality Day,” the President of the Republic concluded.
Joining President Milanović in Oklaj were Head of the Cabinet of the President of the Republic of Croatia Bartol Šimunić and Special Adviser to the President of the Republic for Homeland War Veterans Marijan Mareković.
PHOTO : Office of the President of the Republic of Croatia / Dario Andrišek