Among more than 50,000 participants in the Memory Column, through which the people of Vukovar proudly and sorrowfully remembered the tragedy and occupation of the city 21 years ago, was the entire state leadership.
President Ivo Josipović stated that the state leadership, as well as all pilgrims, came to Vukovar to remember the innocent victims and suffering, but also to promise the children that nothing similar will ever happen again.
– Vukovar is a high school of Croatian history, but also of Croatian future and tolerance. Despite all the suffering that the citizens of Vukovar have endured, we must look to the future – said Josip Leko, President of the Croatian Parliament.
For Prime Minister Zoran Milanović, feelings of sadness and happiness mix in Vukovar. – The verdict for the generals is final, and some things we have finally closed. The issue of the missing in Vukovar still remains to be resolved. For their families, the war is not over yet. It is the state’s obligation to persist in this and obtain that data because it certainly exists somewhere – Milanović stated.
The greatest greeting was received by General Mladen Markač, who said he came to Vukovar to remember all the victims of Vukovar and the Homeland War together with others in prayer and peace.
Minister of Veterans Predrag Matić reminded that, symbolically, ‘two days ago the Homeland War was finally concluded’.
– There are still problems that we must continue to address, such as the prosecution of war crimes, the search for the missing, further care for the most severely wounded war veterans and children who have lost their parents – said Matić, adding that he is not satisfied with the pace of the search for the missing.
First Deputy Prime Minister Vesna Pusić told reporters that this year’s commemoration of the Day of Remembrance for the Victims of Vukovar in 1991 is different from previous ones precisely because of the acquittal of Croatian generals in The Hague. When asked by reporters what she expects after the reactions expressing dissatisfaction from Serbia regarding the acquittal of Gotovina and Markač, she said she does not expect anything special.
The police confirmed that more than 50,000 people participated in the Memory Column through the streets of Vukovar, which is the largest number of pilgrims since the commemoration of the suffering and persecution of the people of Vukovar began. Candles were lit across the country in memory of the Vukovar tragedy.
