Croatian President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic said in Knin on Sunday that the Homeland War and Croatian veterans must not be forgotten and that values of the patriotic unity must be passed down to future generations, as this was the key to building a successful Croatian society, the entire state and a better future for Croatia's citizens.

Speaking at the central event marking Victory and Homeland Thanksgiving Day, Croatian War Veterans Day and the 23rd anniversary of Operation Storm in Knin on Sunday, Grabar Kitarovic said Croatia owed to its veterans whose lives were sacrificed for the country not only that it could be free, but so that could also be democratic and economically prosperous.

The president said Croatia was facing new challenges today and that a priority was to build a society and better living conditions for all its citizens.

“A happy citizen is the biggest strength of a country and society and a strong country is a prerequisite of security in the contemporary world,” Grabar Kitarovic said.

Building an efficient homeland security system is one of the national priorities which we must achieve in order to facilitate security and stability of the society and to be ready to respond to all possible security challenges and threats, the president said.

She underscored that investing in defence and security was not an expense but an investment in the future, science, education, research, development, the economy and a safe future.

Grabar Kitarovic also said Croatia would support Bosnia and Herzegovina’s EU efforts “by staying committed to the development of best possible bilateral relations, which includes firm support to the demands of Bosnian Croats for full equality in exercising legitimate national rights.”

After the speeches of the state leadership. 241 candles were lit to commemorate 241 Croatian soldiers killed in Operation Storm.