Vucic on anniversary of Operation "Storm": Peace is in our favor, our army is no less capable than the Croatian one

Exactly 31 years after the start of the Croatian military forces' largest offensive since the country's War of Independence, President of Serbia Aleksandar Vucic emphasized that the priority goal for Belgrade remains the preservation of peace and stability in the Balkans.

In an interview with RTS, the head of state commented that the current moment is favorable for Serbia, given its economic upswing and growing influence. "Peace works for the Serbs. Today, time is working in our favor - we are developing faster than others, our economy is advancing better. This increases our strength and advantages," he said.

Operation "Storm" began on August 4, 1995, as part of the Croatian War of Independence, which lasted from 1991 to 1995. In a few days, Croatian forces regained control over approximately 10,400 square kilometers of territory. According to Serbian data and estimates by organizations documenting casualties, about 220,000 Serbs were forced to leave their homes, and hundreds of civilians and soldiers died. While for Serbia the operation remains a symbol of the suffering of the Serbian population in Croatia, in Croatia itself it is celebrated as a decisive military victory and the conclusion of the struggle for independence.

Vucic stated that Belgrade will continue to support Serbian communities in the region, including in the Republika Srpska in Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as in municipalities with a predominantly Serbian population. "We belong to the same people, regardless of the fact that we are separated by state borders, and we insist on national unity," the Serbian head of state commented, adding that the preservation of the Serbian language, the Cyrillic alphabet, and a common cultural space is of essential importance.

According to the president, the country must simultaneously preserve the memory of Serbian victims and work actively for regional peace. He pointed out that Belgrade recognizes the crimes committed by Serbian representatives during the wars in the former Yugoslavia, but insisted that the suffering of the Serbian people should not be overlooked.

The head of state added that Serbia today is stronger and must develop its influence through economic growth, reindustrialization, and investments in technology. "Today, the Croatian army is not stronger than ours," Vucic stated. He also criticized Montenegro's decision to send a representative to the official ceremony marking Operation "Storm" in Knin, noting that, in his view, the country had not shown the same respect for the commemorations of Serbian victims.

Vucic added that Serbia will continue to support Serbian communities in the region and must be prepared for the upcoming political processes in the Balkans.

The wars that accompanied the collapse of Yugoslavia in the 1990s remain among the most sensitive topics in the region, and the various nations continue to have diverging assessments regarding the causes, victims, and consequences of the conflicts.