Komšić in Ključ: We did not give up in the war when it was hardest, nor have we given up in peace, nor will we in the future, whatever it may bring

(Patria) - Chairman of the BiH Presidency Željko Komšić attended today the marking of the 30th anniversary of the Liberation Day of the municipality of Ključ.

Komšić addressed those present on this occasion, expressing his deepest gratitude to all those who sacrificed their lives and health for the defense of the state of BiH and the liberation of Ključ.

- Esteemed families of martyrs and fallen members of our Army and MUP of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina, war invalids, respected fighters and war commanders of the Army of RBiH, representatives of all levels of government, esteemed citizens of Ključ, I sincerely wish you a happy 30th anniversary of the liberation of your city.



As a member of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, I want to express my deepest gratitude to all those who sacrificed their lives and health for the defense of the state of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the liberation of Ključ.

I don't need to talk about how the monstrous crimes that occurred at the beginning of the war in the municipality of Ključ, especially in Biljani, have become a lesson for all of us, a lesson to be remembered because it serves as a warning.

However, by liberating Ključ, you have given us material for another lesson. That of the victorious and indomitable spirit of the fighters of the Army of BiH, in this case, the fighters of the 510th Liberation Brigade of the 5th Corps of the Army of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina - Komšić stated.



In these days, he added, it is not superfluous to remind and mention that Ključ is a city that was a refuge for the last Bosnian king Stjepan Tomašević Kotromanić.

- And precisely the story of his actions in this city teaches us one of the most important lessons from our history. And that is that we must not and cannot rely on the guarantees, oaths, and promises of others, whether they come from the east or the west!

We can only rely on guarantees that are the product of our strength and intellect, we can only rely on ourselves.

In these turbulent times, we must believe in our strength. We do not need and must not demoralize ourselves, as the people would say, by saying that we are weak and helpless. No, we are not helpless.



We did not give up in the war when it was hardest, we did not give up in peace, and we will not give up in the future, whatever it may bring.

Our strength lies in continuous daily efforts to make our local communities better, and thus our country stronger and more harmonious - said Komšić.

He also told the citizens of Ključ, as well as the whole of BiH, that he knows it is difficult and tiring for them to follow the daily political bickering and power struggles.

- Political games around seats, governments, and positions are becoming a toxic and poisoned environment, far from the eyes of ordinary citizens.

Unnecessary quarrels and tensions have poisoned the public space, in which there is less and less room for reminders of our great victories and the liberation of our cities.



Let's not allow the fight for positions to overshadow the fight for the country. We must not allow this because of all those who are not with us today, precisely so that we can be here.

Just as we once liberated our homeland, now we must begin to liberate "public space". We should bring back memories of events like these from our history into it.

And not to boast and brag, not to send some harsh messages, but to strengthen the awareness that we will have as much freedom and country as we fight for ourselves.

Any complacency and belief that our country will be defended by someone outside of ourselves is nothing more than another attempt at deception, even self-deception.

And that process of deception consists not only in undermining the institutions of the state but also in actively imposing an opinion according to which the fate of the state, social and political processes should be left in the hands of others, in the hands of false friends.

On a broader social level, I have the impression that a struggle is being waged between these two concepts and two approaches to the reality in which we live - Komšić points out.

He notes that precisely these days we hear some not far from here saying that these are their royal cities.

- We have to tell them again, because the truth is hard for them to grasp - there are only Bosnian royal cities. And Ključ, and Jajce, and Visoko, and Bobovac, these are without exception only Bosnian royal cities.

And when they are Bosnian, only then are they Croatian, and Bosniak, and Serbian, then they are ours. Neither all the attempts to dismantle the Bosnian state, nor those that came from the East, nor from the West, could erase this from history.

Therefore, you brave people of Ključ have the right to walk with your heads held high. By confirming your sovereignty and integrity, you have ensured the freedom of life in your city.

And today, after 30 years, you are still the guarantors of your city's freedom, and today you are our guarantee that the keys to Bosnia are in our hands. Happy 30th anniversary of the liberation of your city - concluded Željko Komšić in his address.