"The Serb army's surrender to the Croatian army was more than a military act done in the spirit of honourable customs of war. That event marked the final military defeat of the Great Serbia idea which, unfortunately, not only in the Homeland War, but also through Chetnik crimes in World War II and in other ways, caused a lot of suffering," said President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic, who was in attendance.
"I repeat what I said in Knin, that the Croatian people did not want the war nor does it enjoy anyone's suffering. Croatia was attacked from within and from outside and the war was fought on Croatian state territory," she said.
The president said the 1991-95 war was not fought on even an inch of Serbian territory and that this fact said everything about the political and moral character of that war which, for Croatians, was only defensive and liberating.
"The Croatian people and the Republic of Croatia want peace, just as they wanted it then, they want to develop good neighbourly relations with everyone, fully ready for dialogue on all bilateral issues, while resolutely defending legitimate national interests," the president said.
Veterans Minister Tomo Medved, who was also in attendance, recalled that 10,000 square kilometres were liberated in Operation Storm by 200,000 defenders in just 84 hours.
Thanks to the good organisation of the liberation operation, the enemy army was forced to surrender unconditionally and young generations must know who created Croatia and how, he said.
Lieutenant General Drago Matanovic, an envoy of the minister of defence, spoke of the military aspect of the surrender of the enemy army's 21st corps, including 5,000 soldiers and 12 tanks.