14th Anniversary of Operation ‘Flash’ Marked

Flash was an excellently carried out operation by the Croatian army and police that made the Storm operation possible, state leaders said.

OKUCANI, CROATIA – Croatia’s top state officials on Friday took part in the marking of the 14th anniversary of the “Flash” liberation operation in Okucani. In their speeches they stressed that the successfully carried out operation enabled the creation of today’s modern Croatia which, by entering NATO, has become a stable, democratic country and a reliable partner, safe in the knowledge that nobody can ever again take its freedom or jeopardise its territorial integrity. 

Paying homage to those killed and wounded in the operation, Croatia’s Prime Minister Ivo Sanader, President Stjepan Mesic and Croatian parliament Deputy Speaker Vladimir Seks stressed that “Flash” was an excellently carried out operation by the Croatian army and police that made the Storm operation possible and the liberation of occupied territories in the Republic of Croatia, as well as the peaceful reintegration of the Croatian Danubian area.

In 36 hours, which is how long the “Flash” operation lasted for, 500 square kilometres were liberated, 42 soldiers were killed and 162 wounded.

Mesic, Sanader and Seks thanked them, along with all other Croatian Homeland Defence War soldiers, for making the creation of today’s Croatia possible.

- Let “Flash” keep on flashing – Mesic said, stressing that this year Croatia is marking this anniversary as a full member of NATO. This foreign policy success was achieved “primarily thanks to the fact that in the Homeland Defence War we successfully defended and liberated Croatia”, he stressed. “However, we achieved this as well because we managed to very quickly transform the victorious Croatian army into a modern armed force which today meets NATO standards”, he added.

Now remains the other foreign policy goal – entry into the EU – where we are facing the problem of the Slovenian blockade, but also the problem of finishing the reforms we started as soon as possible, President Mesic stressed and added that he is convinced that both tasks will be completed successfully.

He wished the best for Labour Day and, keeping in mind the global financial and economic crisis, he reminded that “all state government bodies have the obligation to draft and undertake short-term and long-term measures for stabilisation and the further development of our financial and economic system. A life worthy of man is the goal of every responsible government and state authority”, Mesic said.

Prime Minister Ivo Sanader stressed that “Flash” has forever been marked in the foundations of the country and that it was a permanent obligation of gratefulness to all the 7,200 soldiers and police officers who took part in it, especially those who were killed and wounded.

The prime minister also commented on the global economic crisis and said that, just like 14 years ago, the Croatian authorities will “know how to defend the country” and will undertake all the necessary measures for the development of the economy “on the principles of solidarity and responsibility”.

Like Sanader did, Seks thanked the late President Franjo Tudjman and stressed that this day is an opportunity to prevent historical oblivion, the re-writing of history, the distortion and forging of Croatian history. The Croatian state was forged on a fight and victory by Croatian people and soldiers in the Homeland Defence War, he said.