28th Anniversary of the Trebević - Zlatište Operation Marked

SARAJEVO, (Patria) - Organized by the Association of Fighters „Odred Širokača“, the 28th anniversary of the Trebević - Zlatište operation and the attempt to break the siege of Sarajevo in 1992 was marked today.

At the intersection of Hambina carina and Šumarska streets, on the road towards Zlatište, at the memorial erected in memory of the martyrs and fighters of the Odred Širokača, the municipal mayor, Mr. Ibrahim Hadžibajrić, along with his associates, laid flowers and recited the Fatiha.

Mirsad Karić, president of the Association of Fighters „Odred Širokača“, thanked everyone who, by their presence, honored the marking of this significant date, especially the municipal mayor, Mr. Ibrahim Hadžibajrić, and his fellow fighters and participants in the formation of the Odred Širokača, as well as the families of fallen fighters and supporters.

„Today, June 8, 2020, the Odred Širokača marks 28 years of one of the most significant operations that took place within the joint unit of the then Territorial Defense, with the clear goal of breaking the encirclement around Sarajevo,“ said Karić.

Faik Avdibegović, leader of Group 27, also addressed those present, emphasizing that the significance and purpose of these gatherings is to preserve the memory of the events that befell us about 30 years ago and took so much from us.

„Those who will never forget these gatherings are the mothers and fathers whose children sacrificed their lives and laid the foundations of this country. Our duty is to constantly pass on these events to younger generations, so they are aware of what the enemy devised for us then, and continues to do so today, only in a different way. The small number of remaining participants in this glorious battle are living witnesses of what happened on this day; only they can tell the true story of the battle that was fought just a few hundred meters from where we are now. There is a statement from one of the company commanders from this area, expressing the opinion that no unit carried out a more difficult and complex operation than ours during the entire war in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Perhaps the importance and benefit of this operation were not seen at the time, but after it, not a single serious infantry attack occurred on this location, which had great psychological significance for us. Had these neighborhoods fallen, it is questionable what would have happened to the Baščaršija area and beyond," recounted Avdibegović.

In addition to Mayor Hadžibajrić, the anniversary of this battle was also attended by acting municipal ombudsman Enes Smajlović, assistant mayor for veteran, disability, and social protection Safija Šehović, and assistant mayor for investments and communal affairs Adis Hadžović.

In the Trebević-Zlatište operation, the following gave their lives: Amir Šeta, Ramiz Ćemo, Ahmed Holjan, Hanefija Maglajlija, Esad Beha, and Šemsudin Ramović, and 54 fighters were wounded.