Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Gordan Grlić Radman on Thursday started a visit to Canada by attending a commemoration of the Remembrance Day for Homeland War Victims and Remembrance Day for the Victims of Vukovar and Škabrnja with members of the Croat community in Hamilton.
“Today we are remembering the sacrifice of Vukovar and Škabrnja – places that we have rebuilt, as well as the victims of the Homeland War, which we won. We will never forget the sacrifice of Croatian defenders who built their lives into the very foundations of a free and democratic Croatia. Today we remember the heinous crimes and the Great Serbian aggression, the thousands of innocent victims and the immense pain and suffering,” the minister said in his address. He added that in the 30 years of its independence, Croatia had come a long way and made great progress – from the fight for survival and international recognition in the 1990s to a modern country whose flag and coat of arms are recognised worldwide.
Grlić Radman also reflected on the Croat community in Canada, which according to the last census has over 130,000 members. “Croats have enriched the Canadian society with their culture and customs, and have left a lasting trace of Croatian tradition, language, songs and cuisine,” he said.
The minister ended his address by thanking the Canadian Croats for all they had done and were doing for Croatia. “During the hardest times of the Homeland War, you helped Croatia selflessly, honestly and passionately. We witnessed this selflessness again after the earthquake in Petrinja,” he underlined.
Grlić Radman will continue his visit to Canada by attending a security forum in Halifax on Friday and Saturday.