Plenković: There is no relativization of the Independent State of Croatia

Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković stated yesterday in Jasenovac that his government does not relativize the Independent State of Croatia (NDH).

"There is no relativization. We have been here for ten years. I have been the prime minister for ten years and I have been here for all ten. Our statements are clear and relativization may live in the communication space, but if you look at the substance, it is not there," Plenković told reporters after the commemoration of the victims of the Jasenovac concentration camp from World War II.

When asked whether a culture of remembrance can be built and the Ustasha salute "For the homeland, ready!" can be shouted at concerts, Plenković referred to the controversial song by controversial singer Marko Perković Thompson that begins with that Ustasha salute, saying that the song was created in a "different context".

"We are continuously building a culture of remembrance through the education system, and as for that one song, it is related to the beginning of the Homeland War, it was created during the time of Greater Serbia's Milošević aggression against Croatia," Plenković repeated.

He said that the controversial song was made as a "wake-up call" during the Homeland War "when part of Croatia was occupied, people were killed, and that it should be separated from what relates to World War II."

Plenković said that the Government will continue to support the work of the Jasenovac Memorial Area and strengthen the culture of remembrance.

"We will continue to strive to build a tolerant and inclusive society, which knows its own history and knows about the crimes that occurred during World War II," the Prime Minister emphasized and called on teachers to organize as many student visits to Jasenovac as possible.

The 81st anniversary of the breakout of the Ustasha camp was marked yesterday with a memorial column and a commemorative program in Jasenovac.

The commemoration, entitled "Memory for the Future", under the auspices of the Croatian Parliament, was attended by Parliament Speaker Gordan Jandroković, Prime Minister Andrej Plenković, while President Zoran Milanović was represented by his Chief of Staff Orsat Miljenić.