President Milanović Pays Tribute in Oklaj to Fallen Defenders and Civilians of Promina: I expect SDSS representatives to come and express their remorse
The President of the Republic Zoran Milanović today paid tribute to the fallen defenders and civilians of the Promina area by laying a wreath at the main memorial cross in Oklaj on the occasion of the observance of the Day of Remembrance of Military and Civilian Homeland War Victims from the Promina area and the 140th anniversary of the establishment of the Municipality of Promina.
President Milanović expressed his profound respect for the victims killed in the Promina area during the Homeland War, reminding those present that commemorating such tragedies must not become a routine, but rather a lasting warning of the consequences of violence, crime and intolerance. He stressed the importance of remembering all the victims, regardless of their nationality, and reminded that as the President of the Republic he regularly visits and respects those sites where the killings of ethnic Serbs took place, including Jasenovac. He raised the question of why, yet again, no SDSS representatives came to pay their respects to the Croatian victims from the Promina area. “I expect, as a human being, a political representative of ethnic Serb citizens to come here and say ‘I am sorry, things like this must not happen again’. It is my hope and belief that they will not happen again,” said the President of the Republic.
President Milanović also spoke about Croatia’s progress and European Union membership, pointing out that Croatia is making headway and that EU funds are helping the country improve its economy and society. However, he warned that Croatia should not rely solely on EU funds, but focus on developing its own resources and capabilities in order to ensure sustainable and self-sustaining progress. “Use the EU funds, because that money is basically the only thing we get from the European Union. We gave a lot, we handed over a part of our spirit to the process of making decisions on things that concern us,” he said.
The President of the Republic commented on the importance of the citizens’ active participation in the political process, encouraging them to raise their voice in demanding their rights and to take an active role in creating their own future. President Milanović emphasized that Croatia has the potential to become developed like other European countries and said there is no reason why areas of Croatia should not be as successful, for instance, as some areas in Austria. In that sense, he called on all citizens to come together and cooperate to achieve our common goal: a prosperous and thriving Croatia.
Earlier in the day and in the company of the Head of the Municipality of Promina Tihomir Budanko, the President visited the memorial room in the Municipality of Promina building, where he spoke with the families of Homeland War victims and signed the condolence book.
President Milanović was accompanied on his visit by the Special Adviser to the President of the Republic for Homeland War Veterans Marijan Mareković.
PHOTO: Office of the President of the Republic of Croatia / Tomislav Bušljeta