Croatia celebrates 27th anniversary of operation Storm

Croatia is celebrating the Day of Victory and Homeland Thanksgiving, the Day of Croatian Veterans and the 27th anniversary of the military police operation "Storm". The main ceremony was held at the Dinara football club stadium in Knin. Besides the state leadership, thousands of visitors from all over Croatia arrived in Knin. 

The day started in Knin to fanfare that rang out through the city streets, numerous guests from all over the country arrived in the city, many of them took part in operation Storm.

“I'm from Vukovar, I took part in the action and I am proud to be here now. I come every year to mark it,” said one woman.

“I'm from Split. Frane Baković. I am one of the first five who entered Knin. We are celebrating our victory and we have something to be proud of. We are sorry for our fallen,” said a veteran who attended.

“I came from Orahovica, my wife also came and now there are more women than men. This should not be forgotten and should be commemorated for ever and ever,” said yet another man from Orahovica.

State delegations led by the President, Prime Minister and Parliament Speaker, laid wreaths at the “Storm 95” monument at the main square in Knin, for 242 defenders who fell in operation Storm and two who are still listed as missing.

The central celebrations were then held at the FC Dinara football stadium, where General Mladen Markač was the first to give an emotional speech. For all those who ask themselves today if operation storm was necessary he said that Croatia led a politically justified, just, defensive and liberating war.

“Storm is a legitimate, and in a military sense, superbly conducted operation, with which we liberated our occupied territory. It is the crown of all of our victories in the Homeland War,” said General Markač.

Prime Minister Andrej Plenković touched upon accusations claiming Serbs were persecuted after operation Storm, even though it is clear the Serbian leadership forced them to leave.

“This, even though it is known that the leadership of the rebel Serbs, in cooperation with Belgrade, forced them to evacuate from Croatia, which repentant Serbs themselves confirmed in their testimonies in the Hague, and proved with documents. Announced indictments from Belgrade against Croatian pilots and spreading their jurisdiction to the territory of other states, are unacceptable. Especially since they are coming from a country, from where the Greater Serbian aggression against Croatia was initiated, and a country that is still not demonstrating true readiness to admit their responsibility in that criminal enterprise of the Milošević regime,” said the Prime Minister.

Prime Minister Plenković added that operation storm enabled the liberation of a portion of Bosnia and Herzegovina, genocide was prevented in Bihač and the Dayton agreement was enabled, the respect of which we still advocate today.

President Zoran Milanović also touched upon the position of Croats in Bosnia and Herzegovina, noting that the Croatian people have been stripped of rights and are being insulted.

“Croatia is portrayed as the cradle of a joint criminal enterprise, and this is being done by the same people who received the highest awards from Croatia and its presidents for cooperation in the war. That has been forgotten,” said Milanović.

He added that the Dayton agreement is an agreement on the division of authority and power which precisely defines who has the right to what.

“It is pledge to peace and a halt to war, and a more normal future, legally and politically it is precisely defined what goes to whom and who has the right to what. Today that is rudely devalued and we must oppose that, said the President.

After the ceremonies MiG 21s and the new Black Hawk and Kiowa helicopters flew over the skies of Knin.

Mass was also served at the Church of Our Lady of the Great Croatian Baptismal Covenant, led by Šibenik Bishop Tomislav Rogić.

Source: HRT