Croatia celebrates Victory and Homeland Thanksgiving Day today, a public holiday in Croatia which also marks the 14th anniversary of the Operation Storm when the Croatian army and police liberated the town of Knin and the largest part of the formerly Serb-held territory.

Traditionally, the main celebration has been held in Knin where Croatia's President Stjepan Mesic, Prime Minister Jadranka Kosor and Parliament Speaker Luka Bebic attended a public ceremony. 

Addressing the attendees, President Mesic said that Operation Storm had made it possible to liberate the largest part of the occupied areas, as well as that it had created conditions for the completion of the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

"The arrival of Croatian troops in Knin marked the end of the rebellion launched by Croatian Serbs, some of whom were self-deceived and some misled, and it marked the beginning of the restoration of Croatia's territorial integrity and the re-establishment of its legal order on its entire territory," Mesic said, adding that Operation Storm was an excellently prepared and implemented military operation.

The President also condemned all crimes committed in the Homeland War, regardless of who committed them and who the victims were.

The celebration in Knin also included an air display by Croatia Air Force MIG jets and stunt jets.

During the ceremony, Croatian marathon runner Mario Pluscec arrived at the town stadium at the end of his 1,620-kilometre run from Vukovar to Dubrovnik and Knin.

Yesterday and today, in cities across Croatia government officials laid wreaths in honour of those who died in the Homeland War.

Photo: Hina