Prime Minister and President dismiss Serbian insults after August 5th celebrations

August 5th in Croatia is a national holiday. It marks Victory Day, Homeland Thanksgiving Day and Croatian Veterans' Day, and the anniversary of Operation Storm, a 1995 offensive that liberated almost one fifth of Croatian territory occupied by rebel Serbs. The offensive also played a major role in the outcome of the war in neighboring Bosnia and Herzegovina. The operation came after an unsuccessful United Nations peacekeeping mission and failed diplomatic efforts to settle the conflict.

Ahead of the 307th running of the Alka tilting tournament in Sinj, Prime Minister Andrej Plenković and President Zoran Milanović were asked to comment on a slew of accusations and insults from Serbian leaders following the August 5th celebrations for Operation Storm.

"Simply put they act like it is thirty or more years ago. So, without responding to some of the brutal insults from their cabinet members, I call on them to grow up. That would be good for them and for everyone around Serbia," Plenković said.

President Milanović added: "I've already said that I won't comment on Serbia because there's no point. These aren't insignificant slurs, but there's no point. Obviously facts don't matter to them and our good intentions are useless."

Operation Storm was also a strategic victory in the Bosnian War, effectively ending the siege of Bihać, which faced a serious threat of becoming another Srebrenica style massacre. It also put the Croatian Defense Council (HVO) and the Army of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina in a position to change the military balance of power in Bosnia and Herzegovina through the subsequent Operation Mistral 2.

Source: HRT