Addressing the present in the city hall, city council chairman Davor Aras said that he was sending his best regards "to all our generals and the general who is an honorary citizen of Zadar". Although he did not explicitly mention the runaway general Ante Gotovina, who wanted by the UN war crimes tribunal, Aras alluded to him, which caused a stormy and long applause in the hall.
Messages by Prime Minister Ivo Sanader, Transport Minister Bozidar Kalmeta, who is from Zadar, and some other ministers were read on this occasion.
Zadar Mayor Ana Lovrin presented Zadar's achievements in 2004.