The cooperatives are presenting agricultural products, food, various activities and services. The fair is being held under the government's auspices and was organised by the war veterans ministry.

Kosor reiterated that war veterans deserved the most credit for the fact that Croatia was celebrating 20 years of independence, freedom and democracy as well as for the fact that it had completed European Union accession negotiations this year and would join in 2013.

She said it was not enough to just mention war veterans on anniversaries, but that they, their families, and the children, mothers and fathers of those killed in the 1991-95 war should be shown respect.

"There are many today who want to forget or erase your contribution to free and democratic Croatia or rewrite Croatian history," Kosor said, adding that this would not be allowed and that together they would defend the truth about the Homeland War, which she said had been just, defensive and liberating.

She recalled the beginnings of the formation of veterans' cooperatives, saying that many had not believed in it and that even some politicians had been saying that war veterans just expected something from the state and were not willing to work. Your work, perseverance and intelligence have proved them wrong, she said.

To date, 392 cooperatives have been established with the support of the war veterans ministry, an investment of about HRK 60 million.

Kosor said more than HRK 200 million had been invested in the employment of war veterans, which she said had been the best kind of investment, congratulating them on their economic accomplishments.

Two panels will be held as part of the fair, on possibilities the EU offers for the development and work of cooperatives as a special form of small enterprise, and on the law on cooperatives.