Plenkovic: Milosevic’s Visit to Knin Very Useful

Andrej Plenkovic (Beta /HINA/Edvard Susak)

Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic sees the announced presence of Boris Milosevic, the president of the Serb National Council in Croatia, at the marking of the 25th anniversary of Operation Storm in Knin, as “useful and beneficial.”

According to HINA, Plenkovic said in the evening of Aug. 2 that Milosevic’s attendance of the ceremony on behalf of the Independent Democratic Serb Party is “rather useful and beneficial for the Croatian society, the relationship between the Croats and the Serb minority in Croatia, and Croatia-Serbia relations.”

The fact that Milosevic, who is also one of the new deputy prime ministers of Croatia, will travel to Knin represents “a [good] message of a modern, contemporary Croatia which has resolved all its national tasks,” as well as “a political message of a the government’s unity; a message of facing with what has happened in the past 30 years,” Plenkovic added.

When asked what kind of cooperation with Serbia he expects after Aug. 5, when the central event to commemorate the Operation Storm anniversary is to be held, given that many in Belgrade see Milosevic’s decision as outrageous, Plenkovic said his government’s goal is to “improve relations within the Croatian society, as well as [Croatia’s] relations with its neighbors, and to put them in the right place and the right historical context.”

According to Plenkovic, Croatian Veterans Minister Toma Medved’s visit to Grubore where Serb civilians have lost their lives during Operation Storm, is an important political gesture of the Croatian government.

“The fact that Tomo Medved, who is a deputy prime minister, Croatian veterans minister, general of the Croatian army and commander of The Tigers [1st Guards Brigade], wants to visit Grubore, [and] make a civilizational gesture on behalf of the government and express piety for the victims, is an important political gesture of the Croatian government,” Plenkovic added.