Vučić Mentions 'Second Half', Šušnjar Fires Back
Croatian politicians in Knin respond sharply to statements by the Serbian president and former RS leader during Operation Storm commemoration.
Croatian politicians in Knin respond sharply to statements by the Serbian president and former RS leader during Operation Storm commemoration.
A number of Croatian political officials reacted on Wednesday from Knin to statements by Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić, who a day earlier called the military-police operation Storm a crime and mentioned a "second half". The messages from Serbia were dismissed with a reminder that they cannot diminish the magnificent victory upon which a sovereign Croatia was founded.
Minister from the ranks of the Homeland Movement, Ante Šušnjar, emphasized that Croatia's foundation lies precisely in Operation Storm. "That foundation is soaked in blood, which is why today Croatia stands both internationally and in every other sense as a sovereign state. Today is a day when we celebrate the truth, and the message to those who then crossed the Drina with their territorial pretensions is that they didn't succeed then, and they never will," he said.
He also directly addressed Vučić's activities in neighboring Bosnia and Herzegovina. "I see them walking around BiH, inciting and sending very ugly messages. However, what was built on truth cannot be torn down. Croats never attacked; Croats defended their homes. Croats never conquered; Croats defended themselves," Šušnjar said.
The minister also issued a stern warning. "As long as they remain peaceful across the Drina, we will build human and economic relations. As they say, there will be no storms as long as they sit peacefully and stay out of trouble. But if there is a need, there will be storms," he stated. When directly asked if this was a message to Aleksandar Vučić, Šušnjar replied that "until they come to terms with their own truth, they cannot move forward."
Split's mayor, Tomislav Šuta, stressed that the Storm celebration is "a moment when we remember all Croatian defenders who are no longer with us, but also those who are." "A big thank you for the freedom we enjoy today. It is up to us to build a Croatia without divisions, where everyone has the right to their own opinion," he said.
Commenting on the statements by Vučić and former Republika Srpska president Milorad Dodik, who called Operation Storm "a continuation of crimes committed during the period of the Independent State of Croatia," Šuta was clear. "Look, I do not support any kind of extremism. Such things being sent are a bad message. We are all aware of what the war did, and God forbid such things happen again," he said.
HDZ's parliamentary representative and president of HVIDR-a, Josip Đakić, said that "we can all celebrate this victory together as the Croatian people, a victory that is respected worldwide." He stated that he is not interested in messages from Serbia. "Oh, that doesn't interest me at all. They should finally understand that they lost the war they started and apologize, and then tell us where they disappeared," Đakić said.
Most party president Nikola Grmoja expressed pride in being able to celebrate the greatest Croatian victory that liberated occupied territories. When asked about statements from Serbia, he replied that Operation Storm will be "celebrated even more strongly."
"Messages from Serbia do not interest us at all. We defended our own, thanks to Croatian defenders. They can continue to wail year after year, but that cannot diminish this magnificent victory," Grmoja concluded.
