President Milanović at 30th Anniversary Celebration of Military Operation Peruća: Many lives were saved here
The President of the Republic and Commander in Chief of the Croatian Armed Zoran Milanović attended today a ceremony marking the 30th anniversary of the Croatian Army’s Operation Peruća.
The 30th anniversary celebration of Operation ‘Peruća’ took place at Ante Buljan memorial near the Peruća power station and assembled veterans of the 126th brigade, members of Homeland War associations, delegations of the government, the Ministry of Croatian Veterans’ Affairs, Split-Dalmatia County, the Cetina region municipalities and cities, HEP Electric Power Company employees, and residents of the Peruća communities.
“We lost one defender, one of our men, Ante Buljan, but many lives were saved. I know that’s a small consolation to his family, but I believe it’s a deep foundation of immense pride. This valley has always been imbued with the souls and spirits of our ancestors, they linger around us. History has always happened here. That history was fraught with peril, which was always present. I believe and I want to believe that the life that was laid down here thirty years ago, at this spot for Croatia, is the last life that will be sacrificed for Croatia, here and in all areas where our flag is flown and where our name is heard”, President Milanović stated in his address.
“What only remains for me to do is thank you and wish that you keep coming here for many more years, not to forget these things because they are very important for the spirit of the nation and for the souls of those, whether we are believers or not, are watching and lingering above us. Those are the souls of the defenders and the souls of our ancestors of which this valley and this region are full”, the President said in concluding his address.
The programme of the celebration organized by the 126th Brigade Veterans’ Association began with a wreath-laying and candle-lighting ceremony at Ante Buljan memorial. Attending the wreath-laying ceremony alongside President Milanović was the Special Adviser to the President for Homeland War Veterans Marijan Mareković, the Chief of Staff/Deputy Commander of the Guard Mechanized Brigade Colonel Ivan Jenjić, and the Commander of the Engineering Battalion of the Guard Mechanized Brigade Major Robert Budimir Bekan.
Thirty years ago today, the Croatian Army liberated the Peruća dam. This swift action prevented a disaster that might have occurred with the flooding of villages downstream of the Cetina river. One defender, Ante Buljan, was killed in Operation Peruća, while three members of the 126th Sinj Brigade were wounded.
After the commemoration, President Milanović toured the Peruća dam and talked with war veterans and former employees who participated in preventing the dam’s collapse.
PHOTO: Office of the President of the Republic of Croatia / Tomislav Bušljeta