Grabar-Kitarovic recalled that the Great Serbia borders were designed to run along the Virovitica-Karlovac-Karlobag line, and that due to the shape of Croatia's territory, Karlovac and its suburb of Turanj faced the greatest danger, however, "Croatia was not defeated here and Turanj became a symbol of victory for the entire country."
Underlining the importance of the culture of remembrance, the president expressed hope that owing to its unique exhibition the museum would become one of the best known symbols of the Homeland War just like the Vukovar water tower.
She expressed a wish for students to visit places like the museum at Turanj in order to become acquainted with the course of the Homeland War, its values and the sacrifice made in it.
War Veterans Minister Tomo Medved said that the museum was particularly intended for young generations as a lasting reminder of the more recent Croatian history and the strength, courage and resolve of Croatian defenders.
The War Veterans Ministry has already included in its programme visits by eighth graders to Vukovar, Turanj, Knin and Okucani as obligatory history learning sites, Medved said, adding that the ministry wanted students to visit all places that used to be on the front line in the future.
The head of the Karlovac Town Museum, Hrvojka Bozic, said that the area of Turanj had a military purpose as early as 1582, at the time of Ottoman conquests.
As of now, the museum also has a civilian purpose as a modern history memorial, with its exhibition on the 1991-95 war, whose author is Karlovac Town Museum curator Ruzica Stjepanovic.
The Karlovac - Turanj Homeland War Museum, located in a building that was heavily damaged in the 1991-95 war and was preserved in that condition, also includes an outdoor display of military equipment.