VUKOVAR MARKED VUKOVAR, Nov 18 (Hina) - Numerous delegations, including those of the president of the republic, parliament, and the government, on Tuesday paid their respects to soldiers and civilians killed in the defence of Vukovar
by laying wreaths at the town's Homeland War Victims' Memorial Cemetery, marking 12 years of the Serb aggression on the eastern town.
VUKOVAR, Nov 18 (Hina) - Numerous delegations, including those of
the president of the republic, parliament, and the government, on
Tuesday paid their respects to soldiers and civilians killed in the
defence of Vukovar by laying wreaths at the town's Homeland War
Victims' Memorial Cemetery, marking 12 years of the Serb aggression
on the eastern town. #L#
On President Stjepan Mesic's behalf, a wreath was laid by his
advisors on defence and military issues, and national security,
Petar Stipetic and Imra Agotic respectively. Zlatko Tomcic laid a
wreath on parliament's and Deputy Prime Minister Goran Granic and
War Veterans' Affairs Minister Ivica Pancic on the government's
behalf.
Wreaths were also laid by representatives of the Armed Forces,
local officials, war veterans associations, and political
parties.
Police estimate about 7,000 people, including surviving war
veterans and other war victims, attended the commemoration. Mass
for all the victims was said by Split-Makarska Archbishop Marin
Barisic.
About 1,600 soldiers and civilians were killed in the defence of
Vukovar. Thousands of people were wounded, 22,000 Croats and other
non-Serbs were exiled, thousands of soldiers and civilians were
detained in Serb concentration camps, while about 450 are still
listed as missing.
This year Remembrance Day for Vukovar's Victims of 1991 is marked
under the motto "The White Cross Sends Out Admonition".
Parliament decided in 1998 that November 18 would be commemorated
as Remembrance Day for Vukovar's Victims of 1991.
(hina) ha sb