Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic said on Wednesday, taking part in a commemoration on Vukovar and Skabrnja Victims Remembrance Day, that 29 years after the Homeland War Vukovar was a city that was developing, and the government would continue contributing to its development.

At the commemoration on Homeland Defence Victims Rembembrance Day and Vukovar and Skabrnja Victims Remembrance Day, Plenkovic expressed gratitude to the city of Vukovar, Croatian war veterans and victims who secured victory in the Homeland War and Croatia’s freedom.

“Vukovar today, Vukovar 29 years later, is a city that is developing like the entire Vukovar-Srijem County, entire Slavonia, eastern Croatia and areas that were temporarily occupied in the Homeland War and peacefully reintegrated in 1998. As such it deserves special attention and care of state institutions,” the Prime Minister said.

He recalled that at the proposal of his government, November 18 was included in the act on public holidays and memorial days as a non-working day, which gave additional meaning and symbolism to Vukovar.

He added that in the last four year the government had made efforts to develop the city through measures aimed atjob creation, investments in infrastructure, and symbolic moves such as declaring Vukovar a place of special reverence and returning the Croatian army and police to that city.

“We will continue helping Vukovar in that way to make the quality of lives of citizens as high as possible, and to contribute to the development of the city, Vukovar-Srijem County and Slavonia,” he said.

According to Plenkovic, the fact that the deputy prime minister from the Independent Democratic Serb Party (SDSS), Boris Milosevic, has come to the commemorative walk is a message turned to the future, cooperation and development.

The Prime Minister also welcomed the presence of Veran Matic, the Serbian president’s special envoy, saying that him coming to Vukovar is an important and good message “that speaks of facing the past and the fact that in that way Serbian authorities are sending a special message to Vukovar, the sacrifice of Vukovar citizens and Croatian war veterans.”

Asked how many people he expected to take part in the commemorative walk, Plenkovic said that fewer people had gathered in Vukovar today as Remembrance Day was being marked within a special epidemiological framework.

“I expect that we keep our distance in accordance with the epidemiological recommendations. I believe that if people keep their distance, we will reduce and minimise the risk of infection. I hope that people will be responsible,” Plenkovic said.