No ceremonial academies: 28 years since the formation of the Army of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina

(Patria) - Wednesday, April 15, 2020, marks the 28th anniversary of the formation of the Army of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the forces that defended Bosnia and Herzegovina during the recent aggression and which are credited with its survival. The Ministry for Veterans' Affairs of Sarajevo Canton informs that this significant event, unfortunately, cannot be marked as in previous years, due to the current epidemiological situation caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

Due to the measures in force, the Ministry is unable to organize a ceremonial academy, nor to arrange other appropriate activities and events in honor of our defenders, in cooperation with other cantons, higher levels of government ministries, and institutions.

Given the impossibility of marking this event with dignity in the current circumstances, the Ministry urges all media "to pay significant attention to this anniversary, and to, within their capabilities, include short films/reports/articles about the honorable struggle of the Army of RBiH in their program content, in order to remember the bravest sons and daughters of BiH who heroically defended the sovereignty and independence of the homeland".

By the decision of the Presidency of BiH, on April 15, 1992, the Army of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina was formed, as the only legal and legitimate military force of the state of RBiH, which in the most difficult circumstances of the barbaric aggression against our homeland heroically defended the constitutional order of RBiH, writing the most honorable pages in the thousand-year history of BiH's existence.

The Army of RBiH was composed of Territorial Defense units of parts of the then Patriotic League of BiH and was the only legitimate military force in the territory of BiH during the war. It was formed from seven corps that covered the regions: Sarajevo, Tuzla, Zenica, Travnik, Mostar, the region of the current Una-Sana Canton, and the area of Konjic and its surroundings.

April 15 is certainly one of the significant dates in the modern history of Bosnia and Herzegovina, as on that day the forces were officially formed which, despite a much larger and far better-armed aggressor, managed to defend the country and its territorial sovereignty and integrity.