Accompanied by Defence Minister Davor Bozinovic and Economy Minister Djuro Popijac, Kosor met with Mayor Aco Vidakovic and county members of Parliament to discuss local infrastructure projects.

In Operation Flash, which was launched on 1 May 1995 and lasted only 36 hours, the Croatian forces regained control of the Western Slavonia region from Serb rebels; 42 Croatian troops were killed and 162 wounded in the operation. The offensive marked the beginning of restoration of Croatian sovereignty over all the occupied areas of the country. Three months later it was followed by Operation Storm which crushed the Serb insurgency in central and southern Croatia.

Kosor said that nothing could diminish the greatness of Operation Flash or the heroism of the Croatian soldiers who defended their country, their homes, their families and the future of Croatia.

"Nothing can cast a shadow on what is a historical fact and the truth. We won the war that was imposed on us, we won a bloody war of aggression that was launched against Croatia," the prime minister said, adding that all the Croatian veterans should be proud of the war victory.

"I believe that that pride will guide us and give us courage in this work that lies ahead of us and that is the conclusion of negotiations to join the European Union. That moment, the entry of Croatia into the European Union, we will dedicate to the Croatian war veterans," she said.

Kosor will not be able to attend the main ceremony in Okucani on Sunday because she is travelling to Vatican City to attend the beatification of Pope John Paul II. She said she would take that opportunity to discuss the completion of EU entry talks with her colleagues from EU member states.