ZAGREB, May 28 (Hina) - Units of Croatia's National Guard Corps (ZNG) lined up on a stadium in Zagreb's Kranjceviceva Street on Sunday to mark the ninth anniversary of their first line-up on the same stadium, as well as Armed Forces
Day, May 28. On 28 May 1991, ZNG units of Zagreb's First and Second, Osijek's Third, and Split's Fourth brigade, the predecessors of the Croatian Army, lined up at the Kranjceviceva stadium and took their oaths in front of Croatia's first president, Franjo Tudjman. The units comprised special purpose formations of the Interior Ministry, and joined the Croatian Army in late 1991. Addressing the thousand in attendance, Croatian President Stipe Mesic recalled that nine years ago, Croatia opted for a multi-party system. "We did not enjoy freedom for long, because Serbia, headed by Slobodan Milosevic, went into a military conquest of Croatia," he said, adding that nine
ZAGREB, May 28 (Hina) - Units of Croatia's National Guard Corps
(ZNG) lined up on a stadium in Zagreb's Kranjceviceva Street on
Sunday to mark the ninth anniversary of their first line-up on the
same stadium, as well as Armed Forces Day, May 28.
On 28 May 1991, ZNG units of Zagreb's First and Second, Osijek's
Third, and Split's Fourth brigade, the predecessors of the Croatian
Army, lined up at the Kranjceviceva stadium and took their oaths in
front of Croatia's first president, Franjo Tudjman. The units
comprised special purpose formations of the Interior Ministry, and
joined the Croatian Army in late 1991.
Addressing the thousand in attendance, Croatian President Stipe
Mesic recalled that nine years ago, Croatia opted for a multi-party
system. "We did not enjoy freedom for long, because Serbia, headed
by Slobodan Milosevic, went into a military conquest of Croatia,"
he said, adding that nine years ago to this day Croatia had given an
unequivocal answer to Milosevic's threats.
The President said that in 1991, a part of Croatia's citizens whom
he described as misled Serbs, trusting the power of the Yugoslav
federal army turned against the Croatian state. "In Serbia they
laughed at ZNG's poorly armed units, but out of nothing Croatia
created a strong and capable army which defeated the fourth army in
Europe," he said, adding that 1995's liberation operations "Flash"
and "Storm" were the pinnacle of Croatia's Homeland War.
According to President Mesic, Croatia's citizens at January's
parliamentary elections "turned their back to the wrong policy
which had led Croatia into isolation." The currently ruling
coalition's programme promises that Croatia will become a modern
European country comfortable to live in, he asserted.
Defence Minister Jozo Rados said that on 28 May 1991, Croatia
clearly told the world it would resort to arms if necessary to
defend its independence and freedom. In today's democratic and
civil society it is necessary to find the right place for the armed
force, he added.
Interior Minister Sime Lucin reminded of the importance the police
had in the formation of ZNG and of the first days of the Homeland
War. He believes Croatia's recent access to NATO's Partnership for
Peace programme is evidence of the strength and good organisation
of the Croatian Army.
Lucin also recalled that the Homeland War claimed the lives of 842
policemen, while 3,566 were wounded and 64 are still being traced.
According to reserve Major General Bozo Budimir, one of the
organisers of ZNG's first lining up, the formation of ZNG played a
definitive role in Croatia's independence.
(hina) ha