Dubrovnik and its residents marked on Tuesday the 20th anniversary of the southern Adriatic resort's defence in the war and Dubrovnik Defenders Day, which is observed on December 6, with President and Armed Forces Supreme Commander Ivo Josipovic in attendance.
After a procession down the main street, Stradun, about 800 defenders of 1991 lined up for review.
Josipovic said Croats remembered with pride and would never forget all those who had died defending Dubrovnik and Croatia, as freedom had no price, either in silver, gold or human life.
Josipovic said he believed in Croatia, which he added carried the spirit of Croatian defenders and had gone through the most difficult moments, while today it was fighting other challenges.
"Dubrovnik is a place where the past and the future meet and I believe this town will remain a flower of the world heritage," Josipovic said.
Today, he posthumously decorated Miljenko Bratos, the key person in preparing Dubrovnik's defence in 1991, and bestowed the Croatian Charter on the town and its defenders of 1991.
Mayor Andro Vlahusic said December 6, 1991 was a big day for Dubrovnik, as the town was successfully defended that day, adding that all defenders, including those disabled or killed and their families, should be thanked, because there would be no Croatia without their sacrifice.
The wartime commander of Dubrovnik's defence, Major General Nojko Marinovic, said 194 defenders were killed when the town was under the strongest siege, including 94 in the first three months.
Before the ceremony, President Josipovic laid a wreath at a monument at the defenders' cemetery Boninovo.
December 6, 1991 will be remembered as one of the worst days in Dubrovnik's history, when Serbian and Montenegrin soldiers targeted the coastal resort from every weapon, killing 19 defenders and civilians as well as wounding another 60 people. Thousands of shells fell on the historical centre, nine palaces were burned to the ground and 461 buildings were severely damaged.
