President Milanović Lays a Wreath at the Monument to the Croatian Victory “Storm ’95” in Knin and Pays Tribute to Croatian Defenders
The President of the Republic and Commander in Chief of the Croatian Armed Forces Zoran Milanović participated in marking Victory and Homeland Gratitude Day and Croatian Defenders’ Day and the 30th anniversary of the Military and Police Operation “Storm” in Knin. As he does every year, President Milanović paid tribute to all the fallen Croatian defenders of the Homeland War by laying a wreath at the Monument to the Croatian Victory “Storm ‘95” in Knin.
The President of the Republic and Commander in Chief of the Croatian Armed was joined at the wreath-laying and candle-lighting ceremony by the Chief of the General Staff of the Croatian Armed Forces Tihomir Kundid, military commanders and the mayors of the cities of Zagreb and Knin, Tomislav Tomašević and Marijo Ćaćić respectively.
In the second part of the commemoration which was held at the stadium in Knin, retired Lieutenant General Marijan Mareković delivered an address as the delegate of the President of the Republic, as the President of the Republic believes that the most appropriate way to mark the 30th anniversary of Operation Storm and to honour all the participants in Operation Storm is for one of the commanders of Operation Storm, retired Lieutenant General Mareković, at the same time the Adviser to the President of the Republic for Homeland War Veterans, to speak about this great victory of the Croatian Army.
We are publishing the speech of the President of the Republic’s envoy in full.
“Today, as we mark the 30th anniversary of the magnificent Military and Police Operation Storm, we remember with deep respect our comrades who laid down their lives in that decisive battle, as well as all our Homeland War heroes who gave the most valuable thing – their lives – for the freedom and independence of our Homeland.
Their sacrifice obliges us never to forget the price of freedom, to protect and defend it each and every day. Our thoughts linger over the unity and solidarity of our people under the leadership of the first Croatian President Dr. Franjo Tuđman, which enabled us to defend and liberate our Homeland.
Operation Storm did not only liberate Croatia. It paved the way for other operations of the Croatian forces in Bosnia and Herzegovina, which brought peace, an end to suffering and hope for the future to the peoples of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
These days, we are also particularly proud of the great military parade that demonstrated the strength, diversity and unity of Croatia. It is testimony to our determination to preserve peace, stability and security for our citizens, because without security, there is neither freedom nor the realization of the ideals for which our fallen comrades gave their lives.
We must realize that security is costly, but without it there is no future. Our people, through their centuries-long, difficult and often bloody history, deserve a life in freedom and prosperity. It is our duty to translate this sacrifice into action – into a just, secure and prosperous Croatia.
I congratulate all of you on the 30th anniversary of Operation “Storm”, Victory and Homeland Gratitude Day and Croatian Defenders’ Day. Long live our one and only Homeland – Croatia!”
In addition to the delegate of the President of the Republic, the main ceremony was attended by the Prime Minister of the Republic of Croatia Andrej Plenković, the Speaker of the Croatian Parliament Gordan Jandroković, and Croatian defender and president of the Association of Veterans of the 4th Guards Brigade Borislav Lapenda.
Also attending the main ceremony in Knin were the Head of the Office of the President Orsat Miljenić, the Head of the Cabinet of the President Bartol Šimunić, the Adviser to the President for Defence Ivica Olujić, the Adviser to the President for National Security Dragan Lozančić, the Head of the Military Office in the Cabinet for Defense and National Security of the Office of the President Ivica Kranjčević and the Aide de camp to the President Vlado Čulina.
PHOTO: Office of the President of the Republic of Croatia / Ana Marija Katić