PAZIN, Sept 25 (Hina) - The Istria County Assembly held a formal session on Thursday to mark the 60th anniversary of integration of Istria, Rijeka, Zadar and islands with Croatia.
PAZIN, Sept 25 (Hina) - The Istria County Assembly held a formal
session on Thursday to mark the 60th anniversary of integration of
Istria, Rijeka, Zadar and islands with Croatia. #L#
The session was attended by the President of the Republic, Stjepan
Mesic, who said that events that took place in Istria in September
1943 were "the brightest events in the history of Istria and
Croatia."
"Through their policy of antifascism, Croatian Partisans put the
Croatian people on the victorious side in World War Two, ensuring
the survival of the Croats as a nation," the president said.
Mesic stressed that Croatia was based on the principles of
antifascism, respect for ethnic minorities and democracy. He added
that Croatia had become a constructive factor of peace and security
in southeastern Europe.
Also in Pazin, Mesic met leaders of the regional Federation of
Antifascist War Veterans. He supported their demand that they be
given equal rights as veterans of the Homeland War.
"Had there not been the National Liberation Struggle (during WW2),
the Republic of Croatia would not exist. Veterans of the National
Liberation Struggle helped in establishing Croatia while Homeland
War veterans helped in its defence," Mesic said.
The president joined WW2 veterans in their criticism of school
textbooks that "glorify (Ustasha leader) Ante Pavelic". Mesic said
he was shocked to see a full-page photograph of Pavelic in a
textbook which said that Pavelic had not voluntarily ceded Dalmatia
to Mussolini. "No wonder students write Ustasha graffiti
throughout Croatia," he added.
(hina) vm