ZAGREB, Aug 5 (Hina) - This is a day we should celebrate in a dignified manner and without politicisation, Defence Minister Jozo Rados said at Zagreb's Mirogoj cemetery on Sunday. By marking Homeland Gratitude Day and Armed Forces Day
we remember the creation of the Croatian military which was the bearer of the liberation of the country, Rados said, adding it was clear what this meant to the Croatian people, history, and policy. The minister commented on the fact that the leaders of Operation Storm, which in 1995 liberated areas then occupied by Croatian Serb rebels, generals Ante Gotovina and Rahim Ademi, have been indicted by the UN's war crimes tribunal at The Hague. It is a "bitter cup we have to take," he said. "Our generals, which led the army, are now indictees. Ahead of us is a time when we have to defend their innocence, if they are innocent, but even more strongly we have to defend our right to
ZAGREB, Aug 5 (Hina) - This is a day we should celebrate in a
dignified manner and without politicisation, Defence Minister Jozo
Rados said at Zagreb's Mirogoj cemetery on Sunday.
By marking Homeland Gratitude Day and Armed Forces Day we remember
the creation of the Croatian military which was the bearer of the
liberation of the country, Rados said, adding it was clear what this
meant to the Croatian people, history, and policy.
The minister commented on the fact that the leaders of Operation
Storm, which in 1995 liberated areas then occupied by Croatian Serb
rebels, generals Ante Gotovina and Rahim Ademi, have been indicted
by the UN's war crimes tribunal at The Hague. It is a "bitter cup we
have to take," he said.
"Our generals, which led the army, are now indictees. Ahead of us is
a time when we have to defend their innocence, if they are innocent,
but even more strongly we have to defend our right to freedom," said
Rados.
He stressed Croatia must fight for justice, its historic and
political right to be protected.
Speaking about the reconstruction of the Defence Ministry, Rados
said a detailed plan would be ready by year's end.
"Only after deciding the size of the army we want for the next ten
years shall we decide at what pace it is to be done. If we want to do
it sooner, we shall need considerable financial means,
psychological, social and political strain," said the minister.
The Croatian parliament declared Homeland Gratitude Day after the
Operation Storm liberation on Aug. 5, 1995 of the central town of
Knin, at the time the stronghold of Croatian Serb rebellion.
(hina) ha