SPLIT MARKS 10TH ANNIVERSARY OF DEFENCE FROM JNA ATTACK

SPLIT, Nov 15 (Hina) - The 10th anniversary of the successful defence of the city of Split from an attack of the former Yugoslav People's Army (JNA) on November 15, 1991, which claimed the lives of two people, was marked in the southern Croatian port on Thursday. The president of the City Council and former head of the Split crisis headquarters, Zvonimir Puljic, spoke about the events at an official session of the City Council and Government. Puljic said the anniversary was an opportunity to remember the events and oppose current attempts aimed at relativising the roles of the aggressor and the victim. By creating an atmosphere in which anyone criticising the Homeland War with or without reason is welcome, one allows the negation of the desire for independence and imposes guilt, Puljic said, adding those who had fought for Croatia today had to protect the truth about the war. We must not forget our past, but we must direct our thoughts to the future and the unity and development of the country, for which 15,000 soldiers gave their lives and 40,000 were wounded, Split mayor Ivan Skaric said. Croatian Navy ships were today anchored in the city port to commemorate the anniversary. This morning, the city authorities laid wreaths at the graves of killed Croatian soldiers at the city cemetery of Lovrinac. (hina) sb rml