.png)
Zagreb - Parliament Speaker Gordan Jandroković on Friday extended his best wishes to Croatian MPs and citizens on the occasion of Parliament Day, which is observed on 8 October, recalling the historic decision the parliament made on that day 32 years ago, and the dramatic events of 7 October 1991.
On 8 October 1991 the first Sabor unanimously made a decision to sever all state and legal ties with the former state, and the day before, on 7 October, JNA planes bombed Zagreb's historical centre and the government building.
Their aim was clear - to eliminate our leadership at the time, headed by Croatia's first president Franjo Tuđman, Jandroković said, adding that four persons were injured in the attack and that one, Marko Mihić, was killed.
Jandroković recalled that due to the danger of new attacks, the Sabor held its historic session in the basement of the INA company building, in Šubićeva Street.
"That day the Sabor demonstrated that it was a true keeper and protector of the Croatian people's survival," he said, adding that in the following period the Sabor made many important decisions crucial for the independence and sovereignty of the Croatian state and democracy.
He underlined the crucial role of Croatian war veterans and President Tuđman in the creation of modern Croatia.
Jandroković recalled that Croatia is today a member of NATO and the EU, a member of the Schengen and euro areas, and that it shares and strongly protects the EU's and democratic world's common values of peace, freedom and democracy.
He stressed that Europe is faced with "many threats", and that it is important to continue investing in strategic defence, transport and energy projects across the country, as well as strengthen its economy, health system and science and education sector and democratic institutions.
In a special message to MPs, Jandroković said that the different challenges Croatia was faced with "require exceptional caution".
"In that context, maybe it would be useful to think about, at least in the last year of our term, whether we have always confronted our opinions in the Sabor in an optimal way and with sufficient mutual respect," Jandroković said, calling on MPs to approach the super election year 2024 with maximum political seriousness and responsibility.