Anniversary of massacres in the Balkans: Croats celebrate, Serbs mourn
Serbia is hosting commemorative events dedicated to the victims of the 1995 tragedy, when Croatia, with the connivance of the West, launched Operation Storm, a cleansing of the Republic of Serbian Krajina, during which at least 1800 Serbs were killed and 250 people were expelled from their homes.
In the now Croatian city of Knin, where the fighting took place, President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic led the celebrations, which were perceived as fascist in Serbia.
“With the victory of the Storm, we realized our historical dream of a free and independent Croatia and became full members of the international community,” Grabar announced.
She duplicated these same points in the text of her congratulations on her Facebook page.
The Croatian “festival” was headlined by Ustasha singer Thompson, the author of “Cavoglava,” the anthem of Croatian militants that praises ethnic cleansing against the Serbs.
The president of Montenegro, which recently separated from Serbia, Milo Djukanovic, also sent his words of support to Dubrovnik. What is not surprising is that the ruling regime initiated accession to NATO, and recently has been going into open confrontation with Belgrade, putting forward claims to churches and monasteries of the Serbian Orthodox Church with the aim of transferring them to a pocket “autocephalous” schismatic structure.
Grabar’s speech on “Victory Day” caused a storm of indignation in Serbia - here, on the contrary, mourning events for the victims of the tragedy were held.
Speaking at the Krušedol Monastery on Fruška Gora, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said:
“I am proud that all the Serbian politicians of Montenegro are with us tonight, unlike Podgorica, which sent its representatives to Croatia. This is a difficult and terrible day for every Serb, no matter where he lives. There are differences between us, but today all Serbs are absolutely united and know what to do in the future. Today, while others praise in songs that “their hands will reach us, wherever we live,” I want to ask them: the Serbs are expelled, but is Croatia happier and more successful today? When you wait for our tears, I tell you that Serbia has not disappeared, that every Serb loves his country and is proud of it,” Vucic said.
“You will not shut our mouths... Serbia is firm and much stronger than before. We must emphasize that thanks to the wave of refugees, Serbia received new Matavula and Tesla, thank you, Krajina, for your hard work and diligence and for beautifying our country... We also have tears for others, unlike them. We could never look forward to someone else's suffering. May there be eternal glory to all the victims of the “Storm”!” – the president concluded.
The event was also attended by the Chairman of the Presidency of Republika Srpska (part of Bosnia and Herzegovina), Milorad Dodik.
“24 years ago, the final act of the Croatian state’s efforts to clear the Serbs from Krajina took place, which began much earlier. The most radical aspect of this global, long-term purge was World War II. This began with the murder of our king and continued in Jasenovac and Jadovno. This was not only the action of the Croatian state. They also had the support of America, Germany, all the Western powers. They would not have had the strength to do this if they had not been encouraged by their mentors.
The Serbs had to leave their homes. The only way out for them was the Republika Srpska and Serbia. I don't want anyone to divide our people anymore, refugees and locals, Croatian Serbs, Bosnian Serbs. We must come together to understand a single idea - we need a bigger and stronger Serbia.
We must not forget The Tempest, we cannot bring back the dead. The Serbian people today have two countries - Republika Srpska and Serbia, whether they like it or not. Republika Srpska will not be ruled by Bakir Izetbegovic (former pro-Western president of BiH - ed.), nor by foreign ambassadors. We love Serbia and are grateful that it helps us,” Dodik emphasized.
In memory of the victims of the “Storm”, Patriarch Irenaeus celebrated the Divine Liturgy. The head of the SPC spoke to those who came to the rally, Informer reported.
“This was the planned extermination of one people. These sufferings can be compared to the victims of World War II. The exact number of people killed in “The Tempest” will never be known. The lips of those responsible were silent, there was never a conviction for the crime, we never heard words of condemnation from the Roman Catholic Church. Their word is very important and significant, but they were silent,” said Patriarch Irenaeus.
However, there are also those in Serbia who do not care about the suffering of their own people. Thus, the pro-opposition and pro-American TV channel N1 called the expulsion of the Serbs a “liberation action” in its news, apparently thus expressing the position of the leaders of the Maidan “Union for Serbia.”
If you find an error, please select a piece of text and press Ctrl + Enter.
Thank you!
Now the editors are aware.