ANTI-FASCISTS IN JAJCE: AVNOJ Obliges Us to Joint Action, We Are Far More Numerous Than Those on the Opposite Side

(Patria) - A gathering of anti-fascists was held in Jajce today on the occasion of the anniversary of the Second Session of AVNOJ, which was held on November 29, 1943. Anti-fascists from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Slovenia, Montenegro, Croatia, Serbia, and North Macedonia came to Jajce today.

The Museum of the Second Session of AVNOJ also organized a ceremonial academy on the occasion of the 79th anniversary of the Second Session of AVNOJ.

The Second Session of AVNOJ, held in Jajce on November 29, 1943, is an integral part of the historical tradition of the peoples of Bosnia and Herzegovina and one of the milestones of its history. At the Second Session of AVNOJ, the Decisions of the First Session of ZAVNOBiH, which restored the statehood of Bosnia and Herzegovina, were confirmed. The decisions of these two historical sessions are of great importance for the modern state of Bosnia and Herzegovina for two reasons. Firstly, in 1992, when its peoples decided to break state ties with the federal state of Yugoslavia, Bosnia and Herzegovina received international recognition without major obstacles thanks to the decisions made at the sessions in Mrkonjić Grad and Jajce (which confirmed Bosnia and Herzegovina as a sovereign state, which then joined the Yugoslav federation). After international recognition in 1992, the borders of Bosnia and Herzegovina established at the Second Session of AVNOJ were accepted as valid and unchangeable.

The event "AVNOJ Days in Jajce" is unique in our region. The Museum of the Second Session of AVNOJ preserves the memory of the anti-fascist tradition of all Yugoslav peoples in this way.

The President of SABNOR, Sead Đulić, began his address with the words "Death to fascism," and received the response from those present, "Freedom to the people."

"If it weren't for the Second Session of AVNOJ, none of these countries formed from the breakup of Yugoslavia would be a state today. All were recognized within AVNOJ borders. All were given the opportunity for a referendum based on AVNOJ. This is not just a memory and regret for Yugoslavia; it is a look into the future and an inspiration from the brilliant decisions made here. Historical decisions were made here, and freedom was brought to all the peoples of ex-Yugoslavia. How difficult it was to establish civilian government in such wartime conditions. During World War II, when the CPY called the people to an uprising in 1941, that party was banned throughout Yugoslavia. With only 72,800 people and word-of-mouth communication, they managed to mobilize the people and create an army of 800,000 partisans. Above all, they were eager to fight for equality and social justice. Even in those conditions, they created a free territory, and in the hardest battles, they had a vision of a state. Those who made decisions in 1943 thought about what they wanted and sacrificed themselves to achieve it. The peoples of Yugoslavia were the only ones in Europe to have a revolution and create a state. Here, they made decisions about what that state should be like. In Jajce, what was concluded in Mrkonjić Grad was finally confirmed. It was cemented there that BiH is an equal republic with all other republics and that no one has the right to interfere with us. It enabled us to have a referendum in 1992. From the unity that radiated then, let us learn that we have a common heritage that gave us everything we had, let us be inspired and build that future together. We have too much in common to talk about differences. Let the voice of us anti-fascists from Triglav to Gevgelija be heard as loudly as Tito's anti-fascists were heard worldwide in 1943. We anti-fascists from Triglav to Gevgelija are far more numerous than those opposite us. We have no right to silence, no right to inaction; AVNOJ obliges us to joint, fraternal action. Let's make our authorities do the same," Đulić conveyed.