After the national anthem was played, a wreath was placed in the square in memory of all who lost their lives in the anti-Fascist struggle during the Second World War,
Extending his best wishes to residents of Zadar on the occasion of Anti-Fascist Struggle Day, Mayor Vrancic said that "this is a great holiday in which we celebrate the victory against the evil in the last century and the victory which brought benefits to the civilisation".
Vrancic said that "Croatia and Zadar treat anti-Fascist heritage with great deference and that they belong to anti-Fascism" and pay tribute to all Croatians and other citizens who were guided by noble ideals in the struggle against the occupying forces".
The mayor, however, added that "it is well known that some of those fighters misused noble ideals and perpetrated mass crimes which no normal man can accept. Therefore we distance ourselves from those crimes."
Vrancic said that those crimes were the reason why he would not place a wreath on the monument with the Red Star in the city's cemetery.
In response to questions from the press about his decision not to attend a wreath-laying ceremony by the Red Star monument in the cemetery, Vrancic said that the end of the Second World War brought the victory against Fascism, but it did not bring Croatia freedom, independence or democracy.
"Only with the completion of the Homeland Defence War (in the first half of 1990s) the Croatian people experienced freedom and democracy," the Zadar mayor said.