25th anniversary of Maslenica operation marked in Zadar

Main celebrations were held today to mark the 25th anniversary of the Maslenica operation during the Homeland War.

Following a wreath laying ceremony during the morning a procession was held through the Zadar city streets of those that took part in the operation while three of the Croatian Armed Forces Kiowa helicopters flew overhead.

Marking the day then continued with the main ceremony at the Croatian National Theatre in Zadar. Today's day was an occasion to remember the time when Croatia said “NO” to aggression by the Yugoslav People's Army and Serbian paramilitary units. Pride, but also pain for loved ones lost was the focus of many speeches given.

Addressing those gathered Deputy Prime Minister and Prime Minister Andrej Plenković's envoy, Minister of Defence, Damir Krstičević, said that 25 years have passed since operation Maslenica, which in a military sense meant a turnaround in the Homeland War. “With this operation we joined the north and south of Croatia. We demonstrated that at that moment the Croatian military, already in 1993, reached such a level of organization and equipment that it was able to conduct such a complex military operation. And what is most important, we gave our political leadership, with our first president Dr. Franjo Tuđman, a strong lever in strengthening the political position on the international scene,” said Minister Krstičević.

President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović recalled the operation itself but also the fact that in battles for the Zadar hinterland that continued later, 127 soldiers lost their lives. “Not only this operation, but other actions and operations during the Homeland War, are testament to the patriotism, bravery and moral virtues of the Croatian man. They remind us that for Croatia there are no obstacles that can't be overcome when we are together, and when we have clearly defined goals, when like our heroes from Maslenica we tirelessly, despite victims, persistently, every day work for the progress of our Homeland,” said the president in her speech at the Croatian National Theatre in Zadar.

Deputy Parliament Speaker Milijan Brkić, a participant of the Maslenica operation himself, remembered the courage and dignity of those that defended the Homeland.  “When we speak about freedom, we are not only speaking about the freedom of the Croatian people, but about freedom as a human need, for every man and every citizen of the Republic of Croatia. The military-police operation Maslenica demonstrates to us how great the strength is of those that fight for our freedom,” said Brkić.

Retired General Ante Gotovina, who played a key role in the Maslenica operation, was met with applause after his speech that recalled the turnabout of the Homeland War.  “The success of the Maslenica operation brought security to the cities of Zadar, Biograd, Šibenik and Sinj. Once again we connected the north and south of Croatia by land. Prompted by experience and lessons learned during the Maslenica operation, needs arose for the armed forces in terms of organization, gaining knowledge, additional training, and equipping with technology, with the goal of increasing our level of readiness as a preparation for the final liberation of our Homeland,” said General Ante Gotovina.