The 80th anniversary of the first People's Government of Federal Croatia was marked by the laying of wreaths at the Memorial Plaque in the atrium of the Old City Hall and a ceremonial academy in the Croatian House, writes Split.
Speaking about the historical importance of the formation of the first People's Government, Mayor Ivica Puljak emphasized to those gathered at the ceremonial academy that "with the victory in World War II, the Croatian people achieved the right to their first, own people's Government, which was formed in Split on April 14, 1945."
"Split was the capital of the free Croatian homeland in those days. If it had not been for the anti-fascist struggle, without a doubt, there would not have been the first Croatian People's Government, and there would most certainly not have been today's Croatia, nor its borders that were defended in the Homeland War," said Mayor Puljak.
"Antifascism is our historical heritage and a positive European legacy that we must be proud of," the mayor said at the end of his speech.
Among the interlocutors was Josip Milat, a doyen of promoting anti-fascist values and a member of the presidency of the Alliance of Anti-Fascist Fighters and Anti-Fascists of the Republic of Croatia.
"The formation of the People's Government in Split is a turning point in our history that has permanently determined the development of the Republic of Croatia. The truth about the National Liberation War needs to be repeated, for the sake of the younger generations and for the sake of an attempt to revise and completely change our history. The formation of the first government was the next step towards creating the foundations of Croatian statehood, the foundations on which Croatia exists today," said Milat, emphasizing that the People's Government, after ZAVNOH abolished the Treaties of Rapallo and Rome, had jurisdiction over the entire territory of Croatia.
The ceremonial academy brought together numerous guests, including the President of the City Council Željko Domazet, Ninoslav Ćurić on behalf of the Split-Dalmatia County Police Department, the leader of the Alliance of Anti-Fascist Fighters and Anti-Fascists of the Republic of Croatia Franjo Habulin, then representatives of anti-fascist associations from Šibenik and Zagreb, as well as members of parliament and city councilors.
On the eve of the ceremony, wreaths were laid at the cemetery commemorating the fallen fighters of the NOR and at the grave of Vicko Krstulović, a minister in the first government.
Source: Split
Photo: City of Split
