Decisions made by ZAVNOH at its session in Topusko produced great and far-reaching significance for the Croatian people and for the Croatian statehood, Bebic said adding that the ZAVNOH laid constitutional and legal foundations for the present-day Croatian state.
"The freedom-loving, democratic and state-building spirit of our nation and the need to freely decide on our national and political present and future has been demonstrated during our long and difficult national history," Bebic said at the commemoration in Topusko.
"This tradition was, unfortunately, interrupted by the establishment of (Nazi-style) independent State of Croatia," he said, adding that the Independent State of Croatia (NDH) was "a satellite and instrument of an undemocratic, Fascist and Nazi system".
Commemorating the ZAVNOH anniversary under the auspices of the Croatian Parliament (Sabor) we confirm our antifascist commitment, the parliament speaker said adding that the declaration on anti-fascism adopted by the Sabor in 2005 underlined the need to permanently promote antifascist values and achievements.
"Therefore, Croatia together with all countries of the freedom-loving Europe can celebrate the day of victory over Fascism as its day, Europe Day," Bebic said.
Norwegian Ambassador to Croatia, Terje Haug, said that the joint struggle of antifascists in many countries had created strong friendships among them, and added that Croatia and the former (federal Socialist) Yugoslavia had endured the gravest atrocities in their struggle against fascism, which was why Croatia definitely belonged to a family of European nations.
Addressing the commemoration, the leader of the Serb National Council in Croatia, Milorad Pupovac, said that today's event in Topusko should serve as an inspiration for fending off attempts to equate the achievements of the antifascist struggle in the region (NOB) with the evil of those times.