ON THE occasion of Victory Day, Homeland Thanksgiving Day and Croatian Veterans' Day and the 25th anniversary of the military-police operation Storm, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Veterans' Affairs, Tomo Medved, issued a message on Tuesday calling for a dignified celebration of the "crown of our victory."

"Dear Croatian veterans and members of Croatian veteran families, honourable members of the families of Croatian defenders who were killed or went missing or who have passed away, dear citizens of Croatia, I congratulate you on Victory Day, Homeland Thanksgiving Day and Croatian Veterans' Day and the 25th anniversary of the military-police operation Storm," Minister Medved said in his message.

He said that 25 years ago "the Croatian people showed the entire world their courage, unity, resoluteness and strength." He recalled that under the leadership of the first Croatian president Franjo Tudjman one-fifth of occupied Croatian territory was liberated and the Croatian people clearly showed that they themselves decided on their own future.

He underlined that the Croatian flag on top of the Knin Fortress signified the realisation of a historical dream - a free Croatia.

"We pray for the 241 defenders killed or missing in Operation Storm and remember all those who were killed or went missing on that long path to final peace. We pay our respects and express our gratitude to all Croatian defenders, the founders of Croatian statehood, who invested themselves for the sake of the Croatian people and their homeland," Medved said.

"Let us be proud and dignified in celebrating the crown of our victory. The unity that we built then is our strength. Let us nurture it for the generations to whom we leave our legacy of a free homeland," he said.