Anti-fascism represents pillars of Croatia and the European Union and it is is necessary to thwart promptly any attempt to revise history and achievements of democracy, tolerance and human rights, according to speakers at the ceremony at Brezovica on Saturday when Croatia marked its Antifascist Struggle Day.
22 June is observed as Antifascist Struggle Day in memory of the formation of the first armed antifascist unit in Croatia and occupied Europe in World War Two - the 1st Sisak Partisan Detachment - formed in Brezovica forest near Sisak on 22 June 1941.
Anti-fascism is a constant regardless of crises, deviations and regardless of some people who would like to change the course of history, President Ivo Josipovic said in his speech.
Anti-fascism is in the foundations of the EU and the democratic Croatia, he stressed calling for prevention of any attempts to change the "content of our democracy and our Constitution".
He said he was in favour of reconciliation but that one should have in mind that anti-fascism advocated the good and civilisation values against the evil, terror and hatred brought by fascism.
Parliament Speaker Josip Leko said that in the World War Two brought the victory was won by the European idea of the right to be different and to build peace, defeating the ideology of racial laws and imperialism.
Speaking on behalf of the government, Labour Minister Mirando Mrsic called for building the "Croatian house of peace", based on anti-fascism, democracy and tolerance.
Former Croatian president Stjepan Mesic cautioned against "an offensive of those who during the amply-funded campaigns are imposing new divisions".
One of the speakers was Ukrainian Ambassador Oleksandr Mihaylovich Levchenko.
