The time has come for looking at history with common sense and for ceasing practicing "our virtual anti-Fascism" which has boasted of anti-fascist values when it comes to Europe and our international relations, but has at the same time prevented the reconstruction of Partizan monuments and disregarded the parliament's Anti-Fascist Declaration, President Josipovic said at the central ceremony marking Croatia's Anti-Fascist Struggle Day on Wednesday.

The event began in Brezovica Forest near Sisak on Wednesday morning with wreath-laying ceremonies at the monument erected in tribute to the first 79-strong Partisan Unit which was established in that forest on 22 June 1941 under the command of Vladimir Janic Capo.

Today's commemoration, organised under the auspices of the Croatian President, the Prime Minister, Sisak County and the Anti-Fascist Fighters' Association, marks the 70th anniversary of the establishment of the first anti-Fascist armed unit in Croatia and in the occupied parts of Europe as well as the 66th anniversary of the victory over fascism. Of 79 fighters who set up the first Partisan unit, 38 survived the war. A majority of that unit's members were people from the wider Sisak area and of Croat descent.

Josipovic said one could see that the time had changed in the fact that some of the monuments in tribute to the anti-Fascist struggle were being renovated, and welcomed an increasing number of high-ranking politicians attending together events marking anti-fascist struggles and victories.

"Lessons should be learned from the Second World War about patriotism, bravery and sacrifice for others which were also performed by soldiers defending Croatia during the Homeland Defence War," the president said, calling for treating WWII veterans as patriots and defenders of Croatia's cause.

Parliament Deputy Speaker Josip Friscic and Foreign Minister Gordan Jandrokovic as Prime Minister Jadranka Kosor's envoy and other delegations also held speeches at the ceremony.

Friscic said the Homeland Defence War defended the borders of Croatia, established during the anti-Fascist war in WWII.

Jandrokovic said that Croatia's history in the 20th century had been characterised by deep conflicts and controversies which were surmounted by reconciliation and unity demonstrated during the Homeland Defence War in the 1990s.

"Without that unity and reconciliation, promoted by the first Croatian president and anti-fascist fighter Franjo Tudjman, there would have been no Croatian state," the minister said.

Jandrokovic said that it was a joint duty to see to it that the Croatian society in the 21st century was not marked by divisions stemming from the Second World War.

With the condemnation of any totalitarianism and extremism, Croatia would like to build its future on firm European foundations, he added.

At the beginning of the ceremony, wreaths were laid by President Josipovic, Parliament Deputy Speaker Friscic, Foreign Minister Jandrokovic and other delegations, including a delegation led by Ukrainian Ambassador Oleksandr Levchenko.

During the Brezovica celebration, the nonparliamentary Croatian Pure Party of Rights (HCSP) organised a counter-rally to express its opposition to what it said was the glorification of those who committed atrocities against the Croatian people.