33rd anniversary of the Battle for the Presidency Defense marked at Kovači cemetery

(Patria) - The marking of Sarajevo Canton Day, or the 33rd anniversary of the Battle for the Defense of the Presidency of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina, began at the "Kovači" cemetery with the recitation of Fatiha and the laying of flowers.

The battle in which Sarajevo was defended, on May 2, 1992, known as the Battle for the Presidency of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina, was crucial for the defense of the capital city. It was the first major battle for the capital of BiH, and the plan of the then-foreign army on the territory of BiH, the JNA, supported by paramilitary formations, was to seize the Presidency of the Republic of BiH and eliminate the then state leadership.

Numerous delegations attended the commemoration, including member of the Presidency of BiH Denis Bećirović, Mayor of Sarajevo Predrag Puharić, Mayor of Stari Grad Irfan Čengić, Minister for Veterans' Affairs Omer Osmanović, and many others.



- It did not go as the aggressor wanted, he wanted us to disappear, to cease to exist - said Osmanović.

After laying flowers at the monument, the delegations proceeded to the grave of Alija Izetbegović.

And, precisely on the same day, May 2, 1992, members of the JNA arrested the then-President of the Presidency of the Republic of BiH Alija Izetbegović and his delegation at Sarajevo Airport as they were returning from negotiations in Lisbon. They were then taken to Lukavica.

Today, in the Dobrovoljačka case, the BiH Prosecutor's Office is proving that Alija Izetbegović was free, and that the JNA was actually protecting him (!).

This event was a prelude to what would happen the next day, May 3, when the JNA began withdrawing units from the barracks in the old part of the city, in Bistrik, and after arduous negotiations, an exchange of Izetbegović was agreed upon.