Efendić: This country would not exist without the Army of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina

(Patria) - Perhaps it is a good time to remember that this country would not exist without the Army of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina, said the Mayor of Novi Grad Municipality and President of the Party of BiH Semir Efendić today in Sarajevo, on the occasion of the commemoration of the Day of the Army of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

- We see what is happening in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and in the region, that to this day the denial of genocide has not stopped, that very ugly, fascist messages continue to come from the smaller BiH entity, Republika Srpska.

The policies that led to the Dayton Agreement, but before that to genocide in BiH, have not been defeated, and they are still alive. That is why it is important to remember that the Army of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina stopped them.

Because, if it weren't for the Army and its honorable struggle, there would have been no negotiations and talks in Dayton and the way in which today's BiH was formed, i.e., its Constitution.

Photo: Patria

We are standing here in front of the Memorial, on which are inscribed the names of nearly 2,000 martyrs and fallen soldiers who gave their lives defending the municipality of Novi Grad. It is like this throughout BiH.

It is very important for us to preserve in our memory the remembrance of an honorable Army, which, in the most difficult possible circumstances, waged the most humane form of warfare ever observed.

Therefore, there was no vengefulness, it did not create concentration camps, it did not destroy religious buildings or abuse civilians. That is its moral dimension, but of course, besides the moral dimension, there is also its heroic dimension - Efendić told reporters.

For June 8, the Day of Defense of Novi Grad Municipality, he announced the completion of the construction of a large monument "Wings of Freedom" on Žuč hill, where a large number of soldiers gave their lives defending the city of Sarajevo, and thus the state of BiH.

- We believe it is important to preserve the memory of the Army of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina, primarily because we do not know when we might need it again.
Photo: Patria

And it is very important to know that no international organization, institution, or convention will protect us if we are not capable of protecting ourselves.

We received that lesson once from the Army of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and it is important that we are always aware of that lesson, that in any case where the country needs to be defended, it will only be defended by people willing to defend it with their lives, as was the case with the members of the Army of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina - Efendić added.

He emphasized that the Municipality of Novi Grad dedicates a very important part of its activities to commemorating events, personalities, and dates related to the period 1992-1995, and it may even be a leader in this regard.

Efendić also added that the central memorial in Novi Grad will today receive its digital form, and visitors will have the opportunity to view basic biographical data for each inscribed name individually - where someone died, in which unit they served, where they lived, whether they received any decorations, where they are buried...

Ceremonial Academy

An Academy was held in the Cinema Hall of the Novi Grad Municipality Sarajevo on the occasion of the Day of the Army of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Photo: Patria