A review of the Croatian Armed Forces' troops was performed with Major General Mirko Sundov reporting to President Josipovic, the supreme army commander.
PM Kosor called on citizens to celebrate Victory and Homeland Thanksgiving Day continuing to build Croatia as a free and democratic country marked by peace, tolerance, solidarity and prosperity for each citizen regardless of his/her religion or political affiliation.
President Josipovic said that Operation Storm had been conducted in accordance with all rules of warfare and international conventions, which is why credit should be given to all who planned and honorably participated in that operation under the leadership of the first Croatian President Franjo Tudjman.
Parliament Speaker Bebic recalled that the swift operation had liberated Knin, an ancient royal Croatian town which was used by Serb rebels as their stronghold from the summer of 1990 to 5 August 1995 for their rebellion and occupation.
Bebic spoke about the persecution of civilians and horrendous destruction in the areas held by Serb rebels until the Croatian police and army liberated those regions. He praised the role of the first Croatian President Tudjman in the liberation of the occupied areas, adding that any attempt to belittle Tudjman's role should be deterred.
Commemorative events marking the 15th anniversary of Operation Storm began in Knin on Thursday morning with wreath-laying ceremonies at the local cemetery and the hoisting of a Croatian flag on the fortress overlooking Knin.
Church bells rang out to announce the start of the ceremonies.
Croatian war veterans organised a procession and a motorcade through the town streets.
The military and police operation codenamed Storm began at 5 am on 4 August 1995, a Friday, and in only 84 hours Croatian soldiers and police liberated close to 10,500 square kilometres or one-fifth of the country's territory.
The 5 August 1995 liberation of the southern Croatian town of Knin carried special significance because since the summer of 1990 this town had been the centre of the rebellion of local Serbs.