Djilas: Operation Storm was planned and organized systematic ethnic cleansing

“During this crime, more than 200,000 Serbs were expelled and over 1,800 were killed. Responsibility for these crimes lies not only with those who led the operation but also with all those who refuse to acknowledge them,” Djilas said.

He added that it is “beyond devastating” that 1,183 people are still listed as missing.

He emphasized that the anniversary of Operation Storm must serve as a “warning and an opportunity to understand the importance of reconciliation in the Western Balkans,” and a call to ensure those responsible for crimes committed during the wars of the 1990s are brought to justice.

“Without justice and an honest reckoning with the past by all sides, there can be no lasting peace or a better future for those living in this region,” Djilas said.

Tuesday marks the 31st anniversary of the start of the Croatian military and police Operation Storm, which led to the exodus of more than 200,000 Serbs from Croatia.

Operation Storm began in the early morning hours of August 4, 1995, with an offensive by the Croatian army and police, alongside units of the Croatian Defense Council. The operation targeted the regions of Banija, Kordun, Lika, and northern Dalmatia, which at the time comprised the internationally unrecognized Republika Srpska Krajina.