Magnanimity in victory does not mean that Croatia will ever allow anyone to question the legitimacy of Operation Storm or the defensive nature of the 1991-95 war, Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic said at a ceremony in Knin on Thursday marking the 26th anniversary of the operation that ended a Serb armed insurgency in 1995.

“It is always a special feeling to come to Knin on this day, because it is an opportunity for us to remember the days of pride and victory which are deeply impressed on the hearts of all Croats, but which are also an expression of lasting gratitude to all those who gave their lives so that Croatia could live and be free,” Plenkovic said in his speech, extending his best wishes for Victory and Homeland Thanksgiving Day and Croatian Veterans Day. “Today we pay tribute to the victorious Croatian army and police who, under the leadership of President Franjo Tudjman, defeated in battle the criminal policy of the Serbian regime of Slobodan Milosevic, which secured Croatia’s survival, ended the war and established lasting peace.”

“That victory and our legitimate right to live as free people in our own country was, unfortunately, paid in the lives of the bravest of Croatian sons to whom we are forever grateful, as we are to many members of the ethnic minorities who also defended Croatia,” Plenkovic said.

“Today we are in thoughts with the families of the defenders who were killed, Croatian disabled war veterans and many civilian casualties,” he said, stressing that the war and the victories won in Operation Storm, as well as in Operation Flash and other military operations that preceded it, were the foundations of the present Croatian state.

“That’s why shedding light on the truth about missing persons, the prosecution of war crimes and the attainment of justice for everyone who was caused pain remains our lasting duty,” the prime minister said, adding that “we will always celebrate Operation Storm in dignity so that future generations would also foster the values of the 1991-95 war.”

He said that after symbolic gestures made at last year’s anniversary, his government would continue to pursue the policy of reconciliation, co-existence and understanding, respecting the historical truth and paying respects to all innocent victims.

“But magnanimity in victory does not mean that we will ever allow anyone to question the legitimacy of Operation Storm and the defensive nature of the war. This is also a message to our neighbour, Serbia, which in my opinion should abandon the futile rhetoric of the past, face up to its own responsibility, pursue a policy of reconciliation, and look to the future,” Plenkovic said.

He said that the sacrifices made oblige us to strengthen the Croatian state in political, economic, defence and security aspects and to respond to the challenges facing us, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, recovery after the economic crisis, the imperative of demographic survival, post-earthquake reconstruction, climate change and natural disasters.

He said that Croatia would continue to act in its national interests by pursuing the policy of modern sovereignty based on its membership of NATO and the European Union. Here he cited the construction of the Peljesac Bridge, which will provide a direct road link between southern Croatia and the rest of the country, the completion of the motorway in Istria County, forthcoming membership of the Schengen area and the euro area, and the purchase of fighter jets.

“We are doing all this while strengthening our international position and using the benefits of EU membership and at the same time taking care of Croatian war veterans and their families,” Plenkovic said.