Leko said any distortion of historical facts and their manipulation sowed the seeds of new injustices, hate and even crime, and that unless crimes were condemned, independently of the ideology that led to them, it was not possible to build a mature, truly democratic society without intolerance and divisions.
He recalled that Croatia last year amended the law on national holidays and memorial days to join the countries which observe the Europe-wide Day of Remembrance for the victims of all totalitarian and authoritarian regimes on August 23, following the European Parliament's 2009 resolution on European conscience and totalitarianism.
Leko said the Croatian parliament amended the law primarily to show compassion for the victims of Fascism, Nazism and Communism as well as because of a feeling of responsibility to historical truth.
He said the highest parliamentary delegation, led by Speaker Boris Sprem, paid its respects to innocent victims this year with commemorations at Jasenovac and Tezno, considering it a civilisation and moral obligation.
We did it then to rectify historical injustices, to promote democracy, respect human rights and the rule of law, in order to strengthen Croatia as a society of tolerance, understanding, truth and love of peace, in the spirit of the resolution on European conscience and totalitarianism, Leko said in its message.