ZAGREB, Aug 4, 2020 – Addressing the First Croatian Policeman unit on Tuesday, President Zoran Milanovic warned of the “stupid fabrication” to present the Croatian defence war as a joint criminal enterprise.
Milanovic decorated members of the First Croatian Policeman unit with the Order of Nikola Subic Zrinski on the 30th anniversary of the assembly of 1,800 personnel who then began training to liberate the country from Serb occupation.
“We won the war. The war is over and after the war, there were attempts to present all that before the tribunal in The Hague as a joint criminal enterprise, but that attempt failed,” Milanovic said.
Joint criminal enterprise is one of those stupid and ugly lies
“We were lucky that not one of our generals, and they were acting under orders from the state leadership, was tainted and convicted for that ‘joint criminal enterprise’, which is one of those stupid and ugly lies they tried to pin on Croatia’s back,” he underscored.
“I don’t know who is to blame for that but I am glad that that poor attempt failed. It is up to us to be benevolent in peace and to show good faith,” he added.
He greeted the families of those who fell as casualties or went missing and who paid the highest price.
Regret that the First Croatian Policeman was not given the status of a war unit earlier
“I am pleased to be able to decorate you and the brigades from Bosnia and Herzegovina that liberated Croatia. That is our and my debt of honour to you and to them,” the President said, adding that he regretted that the First Croatian Policeman had not been accorded the status of a war unit earlier.
The celebration was held in the same place where 30 years ago about 1,800 Croatian police officers began training so that they could be put to the service of defending the homeland, it was said at the celebration.
This government has corrected an injustice
Veterans’ Affairs Minister Tomo Medved expressed his congratulations on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the First Croatian Policeman unit underlining that with this the government has corrected an injustice by deciding that the the First Croatian Policeman was the first armed unit of the Interior Ministry.
Ahead of the 25th anniversary of the military-police operation Storm, he thanked the troops for all they had done during their service in the Homeland War.
“Let’s be proud of everything we achieved together and ready for challenges that each new day brings. With optimism and faith, we are continuing towards a better future,” said Medved.
