Top state officials give talks in Knin on Victory and Homeland Thanksgiving Day

Speakers at the main ceremony held in Knin on Monday to mark Victory and Homeland Thanksgiving Day and Homeland War Veterans' Day in memory of 5 August 1995 when Croatia regained control of the town of Knin and most of its territory occupied by rebel Serbs, expressed their gratitude to members of the Croatian forces who secured the victory for Croatia in the Homeland Defence War, calling for joint efforts in the further building of the rule of law as the foundation for progress of a European Croatia.

"Croatia was not founded on a joint criminal enterprise, Croatia is a country that was defended in accordance with laws and customs of war, with a great deal of heart and few weapons, but with a lot of knowledge," Milanovic said in his address.

He recalled that Croatia was defended here, but also in a difficult way before the UN war crimes tribunal in The Hague.

He underlined that not a single EU member had gone through what Croatia had gone through.

Many Croatian citizens fled their homes here, however, looking at the region today, destroyed by the war and lack of trust, people are returning only to Croatia, Knin, Vukovar, not Bosnia, not Serbia not Kosovo, Milanovic said, adding that Croatia must show good faith to everyone.

We believe our path was the right path, he said. "It is up to us to build this community in which we shall lay the foundations for peace for at least several generations," Milanovic said.

The central ceremonies in observance of Victory and Homeland Thanksgiving Day and Homeland War Veterans' Day began in Knin this morning with the ceremony of hoisting Croatia's flag at the town fortress.

(Hina)



News