Aleksandar Vučić, the president of Serbia, delivered a speech at an event in Mrkonjić Građ in Bosnia and Herzegovina, which was organised by the authorities of Republika Srpska. The event, titled 'Day of Remembrance for the Killed and Expelled Serbs', saw 4 August declared a day of mourning by Republika Srpska. Vučić told the assembled crowd that the 'Oluja' operation was a crime for which Serbs must never forget.
In his address, Vučić reiterated the notion that various conspiracies were directed against Serbia and the Serbian people. He claimed that all his political opponents in Serbia were acting on the trail of these conspiracies. At the same time, he sharply criticised Croatia, stating that the country lies daily and deceives the world. He rejected claims that the fall of the rebel entity in Croatia had been agreed upon, dismissing such stories as lies.
The Patriarch of the Serbian Orthodox Church, Porfirije, led the religious service during the event. In his sermon, Porfirije described 'Oluja' as a persecution without precedent in the 20th century. He called on Orthodox believers to strengthen their unity, while simultaneously emphasising the importance of peace and good neighbourly relations with those sharing the living space.
As part of his speech, Vučić offered an apology to the crowd, noting that Serbia in 1995 was weak and unable to protect its citizens. The 'Olija' operation, which liberated the previously occupied part of Croatian territory in August 1995, remains the key historical context for this event. Vučić thereby confirmed that the event is a traumatic one for Serbs, requiring lasting remembrance.
