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Zagreb - Parliament Speaker Gordan Jandroković on Friday sent a congratulatory message on the occasion of Victory and Homeland Thanksgiving Day, Veterans Day and the 28th anniversary of Operation Storm, saying that Storm was a turning point in the 1991-1995 Homeland War.
"That turning point of the Homeland War is also a symbol of the unwavering spirit of the Croatian man and his victorious nature. That's why August 5 every year fills us with feelings of special joy, pride and gratitude", Jandroković said and extended his best wishes to all all Croatians in the homeland and abroad on Victory and Homeland Thanksgiving Day and Veterans Day.
He emphasized that Operation Storm was a magnificent victory for Croatian soldiers, police officers and the then political leadership of the Croatian state, led by the first Croatian president Franjo Tuđman.
"Our obligation is therefore to persistently protect the dignity of the Homeland War, as a solid foundation on which the independent and sovereign Republic of Croatia was built. It is extremely important in Croatian society, and especially among the younger generations, to systematically nurture the memory of the Homeland War. Because being aware of the sacrifices and commitment woven into one's own freedom means valuing it more appropriately," he pointed out.
Jandroković emphasized that the best way to show gratitude to those who made possible the building of the present-day Croatia with their efforts is to work persistently for the betterment of all its citizens.
"Those in power are invited to continue creating public policies aimed at strengthening the resilience of our Homeland, strengthening its institutions, legal certainty, and creating preconditions for new economic advances, as well as for demographic renewal. At the same time, we should all make efforts to promote mutual understanding, respect and solidarity in Croatian society, because this is how we advocate the values "that the Homeland War helped to affirm," he said.
He recalls that today Croatia is a member of NATO, and with this year's entry into the Schengen area and the euro area, it has been fully integrated into the European Union. In addition, he added, with the construction of Pelješac Bridge last year, the multi-generational dream of full territorial connectivity of our Homeland was finally realised.