OKUCANI, May 1 (Hina) - The seventh anniversary of the Croatian military and police liberation operation "Flash" during which the then occupied areas of western Slavonia, was marked in Okucani on Wednesday under the organisation of
the municipal government and the Croatian Defence Ministry.
OKUCANI, May 1 (Hina) - The seventh anniversary of the Croatian
military and police liberation operation "Flash" during which the
then occupied areas of western Slavonia, was marked in Okucani on
Wednesday under the organisation of the municipal government and
the Croatian Defence Ministry. #L#
"Croatia must remember what happened in the Homeland War,
especially its most spectacular operations 'Flash' and 'Storm', so
it can find the strength for peace-time challenges," Defence
Minister Jozo Rados said.
Paying their respects to the 42 killed soldiers and police in the
operation, numerous delegations lead by Rados and Homeland War
Veterans' Minister Ivica Pancic, laid wreaths and lit candles at
the central Cross in Okucani.
Seven years after Flash, returnees to liberated areas are troubled
with unemployment, slow recovery of the economy, and the problem of
solving alternative accommodation for several thousands Croatians
who settled from Bosnia, Backa, Banat and Srijem, and who are living
in the homes of Serbs who fled. This problem, in turn, slows down the
return of citizens of Serb nationality.
Municipal head Mato Bilonjic expressed hope that the problem of
alternative accommodation would be resolved by the end of the
year.
In the Flash operation, Croatian troops liberated 500 square
kilometres of areas under Serb occupation in only a day. They
established control over the Zagreb-Lipovac highway. Forty-two
were killed and 162 wounded.
(hina) lml sb