Plenković after commemoration in Jasenovac: We remember the victims of the Holocaust and all totalitarian regimes

(Patria) - After several years, a unique commemoration was held in Jasenovac with the Croatian state leadership and all government representatives. Prime Minister Andrej Plenković said after the commemoration that "we remember the 78th anniversary of the break-out from the Ustasha camp."

"We remember all victims of the Holocaust and all victims of totalitarian regimes. It is necessary to talk about these topics, to remind of the criminal nature of the NDH, and to warn that such a thing will not and must never happen again. It is important that we generate a new culture, a culture of dialogue and clear condemnations of totalitarian regimes under whose leadership such horrors as in Jasenovac occurred," he said.

He also addressed the issue of banning the Ustasha ("Za dom spremni") and other totalitarian salutes and answered the question of why this is not introduced into the Criminal Code. 

"I believe that this matter is already banned today and that with this we have only increased the penalties that will significantly deter many who intend to use that salute. Criminal charges are filed every time, which the police submit." 

He also commented on Jens Stoltenberg's messages that Ukraine must become a NATO member under an accelerated procedure, which is not a unified stance of all countries that are members of this military alliance.

"Croatia has a clear position. It supports Ukraine as a victim of Russian aggression, we strongly advocated for granting Ukraine candidate status for membership in the European Union, we know about their ambitions to become a NATO member. If they had been a member earlier, then this probably would not have happened today. The position of the entire Alliance, including Croatia, is that this will be possible in the future. An accelerated procedure cannot apply to any integration. We strongly support Ukraine, a consensus of member countries is needed, and that path will take some more time," Plenković stated.