President Milanović Takes Part in Procession in Škabrnja on the Occasion of Remembrance Day for Homeland War Victims and Remembrance Day for Victims of Vukovar and Škabrnja

On the occasion of the observance of the Day of Remembrance for the Victims of the Homeland War and the Day of Remembrance for the Victims of Vukovar and Škabrnja, the President of the Republic and Commander in Chief of the Croatian Armed Forces Zoran Milanović took part in the “Korak po korak” [Step by Step] procession in Škabrnja. The President of the Republic then laid a wreath and lit a candle by the central cross at the memorial in St. Luke’s cemetery in Škabrnja.

The community of Škabrnja, together with the town of Vukovar, is a symbol of Croatia’s suffering in the Homeland War. On 18 November 1991, 43 civilians and 15 Croatian defenders were killed and massacred in Škabrnja. By the time of its liberation in Operation Storm in 1995, 86 people had been killed in Škabrnja.

The “Korak po korak” procession started from Dr. Franjo Tuđman Square, leading to the central cross and the memorial to those who died in the Homeland War in St. Luke’s cemetery, where the names of the victims were read out, while children laid a rose for each victim.

Attending the wreath laying alongside President Milanović were the Chief of the General Staff of the Croatian Armed Forces Admiral Robert Hranj, Commander of the Croatian Army Lieutenant General Boris Šerić, Commander of Support Command Lieutenant General Mladen Fuzul, Commander of the Croatian Navy Rear Admiral Ivo Raffanelli, Assistant Chief of the General Staff of the Croatian Armed Forces for Health Major General Boris Zdilar, Deputy Commander of the Dr. Franjo Tuđman Croatian Defence Academy Brigadier General Blaž Beretin, Commander of the Croatian Army Guards Mechanized Brigade Brigadier General Dražen Ressler, Special Adviser to the President of the Republic for Homeland War Veterans Marijan Mareković, Head of the Military Office in the Cabinet for Defense and National Security in the Office of the President Rear Admiral Predrag Stipanović, and Aide-de-Camp to the President of the Republic Colonel Vlado Čulina.

PHOTO: Office of the President of the Republic of Croatia / Dario Andrišek