A review of the Croatian Armed Forces' troops and war veterans was conducted with Major General Mirko Sundov reporting to the supreme army commander, President Josipovic.

President Josipovic said that Operation Storm had been carried out in accordance with the rules of warfare and international conventions, which is why credit should be given to all who planned and honorably participated in that operation under the leadership of the first Croatian President Franjo Tudjman.

"Storm was the biggest military operation on European soil after the Second World War," Josipovic said adding that apart from the liberation of the largest portion of the occupied Croatian territory, another result of that operation was the creation of conditions to end the war in Bosnia-Herzegovina.

Operation Storm paved the way for political negotiations, the achievement of the Dayton peace agreement for Bosnia-Herzegovina and the conclusion of the Erdut Agreement which enabled the peaceful reintegration of the remaining occupied areas into Croatia, Josipovic said.

The Croatian head of state said that a Greater Serbian policy, pursued by Serbian ruler Slobodan Milosevic, caused evil in Croatia, the region as well as to Croatians, Serbs and all those living in this area.

Josipovic recalled that Operation Storm had been carried out "after numerous peace initiatives and negotiations under the UN auspices had failed".

He also described Operation Storm as an excellently planned and performed operation by Croatian troops and police and as "the crown of years-long efforts to defeat the aggressor".

Josipovic said Operation Storm also helped Bihac in the northwest of Bosnia to be spared of the fate of Srebrenica.

"The victory is honourable. One should be great in the victory. Victory does not give the right to revenge," he said.

"The tragic page of our recent past is, I believe, forever closed. The wounds of the occupation and the war are still fresh but they are healing," he said adding that Croatia would continue to remove the consequences of the war and care for returnees.

Parliament Speaker Bebic recalled that the swift operation had liberated Knin, an ancient royal Croatian town which was used by Serb rebels as their stronghold from the summer of 1990 to 5 August 1995 for their rebellion and occupation.

Bebic spoke about the persecution of civilians and horrendous destruction in the areas held by Serb rebels until the Croatian police and army liberated those regions.

He praised the role of the first Croatian President Tudjman in the liberation of the occupied areas, adding that any attempt to belittle Tudjman's role should be deterred.

Bebic said that crime was committed by those who had tried to occupy and rule Croatia and that Operations Storm and Flash were necessary in the struggle against those "who dared to attack the Croatian state."

PM Kosor called on citizens to celebrate Victory and Homeland Thanksgiving Day continuing to build Croatia as a free and democratic country marked by peace, tolerance, solidarity and prosperity for each citizen regardless of his/her religion or political affiliation.

She also called for overcoming everything which used to divide Croatia in the past and for emphasising the historic role of President Tudjman in the establishment and defence of the sovereign and democratic Croatia."

The premier said that 5 August was celebrated as Victory Day when Croatia once for ever defeated the policy of aggression and occupation pursued by Milosevic.

She went on to say that Croatia was open towards the others, notably towards its neighbours, adding that in order to accept the others, "we must first respect ourselves, our identity, our heroes and our holidays".

She recalled that 184 Croatian troops had lost their lives and 1,430 were wounded in Operation Storm, emphasising that their love of and belief in the homeland set an example to others in Croatia.

Commemorative events marking the 15th anniversary of Operation Storm began in Knin on Thursday morning with wreath-laying ceremonies at the local cemetery and the hoisting of a Croatian flag on the fortress overlooking Knin.

Church bells rang out to announce the start of the ceremonies.

Croatian war veterans organised a procession and a motorcade through the town streets.

The military and police operation codenamed Storm began at 5 am on 4 August 1995, a Friday, and in only 84 hours Croatian soldiers and police liberated close to 10,500 square kilometres or one-fifth of the country's territory.

The 5 August 1995 liberation of the southern Croatian town of Knin carried special significance because since the summer of 1990 this town had been the centre of the rebellion of local Serbs.