33rd Anniversary of the Liberation of Mijatovića Kosa and the Death of War Hero Safet Isović Marked

(Patria) - Laying wreaths and paying tribute, the 33rd anniversary of the liberation of Mijatovića Kosa and the death of war hero Safet Isović, deputy commander of the Second Viteška Brigade, recipient of the highest war recognition "Golden Lily" and decoration for military merits with Golden Swords, was marked today. At the memorial, family members, fellow soldiers and friends gathered to once again jointly pay homage to a man who forever inscribed his name in the history of our homeland.

Wreaths were also laid today by the Minister for Veterans' Affairs of Sarajevo Canton, Omer Osmanović, who said that they tried to destroy a nation, but Safet's children and grandchildren are proof that we still endure today.

'When we look among those gathered today, we see the children and grandchildren of our martyrs and defenders. Many of them were not even born when the battle for Mijatovića Kosa was fought. The freedom they live today was inherited from those who had the courage to stand in defense of their country when it was hardest. That is why it is extremely important to tell them about Safet Isović and all the heroes who wove their lives into the foundations of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Not to live in the past, but to understand how valuable the freedom they have today is,' said Minister Osmanović.

On this occasion, the minister also referred to the battles we are fighting today on other fronts.

"Symbolically, just today, as we mark this anniversary, our national team is playing against Canada at the World Championship. On the other side of the world, our national team players wear the coat of arms of Bosnia and Herzegovina on their chests, just as the defenders wore it in their hearts 33 years ago on Mijatovića Kosa and every inch of our homeland. The matches are different, the times and circumstances are different, but the feeling of pride, belonging and love for the homeland remains the same. Let all this today be a lasting reminder that love for the homeland is not measured by words but by deeds – sometimes on the defense line, and today on sports fields, in classrooms, at workplaces and everywhere where Bosnia and Herzegovina is honorably represented," Minister Osmanović said.

On June 12, 1993, Safet Isović led the 'knights' to liberate Mijatovića Kosa in order to ease the pressure on the hero settlement of Sokolje and to enable it to be defended more successfully later. The knights, about 120 of them, liberated this area in a short assault of about 20 minutes, from where death was sown upon the Novi Grad settlements.

Unfortunately, in that battle, Safet Isović, whom the fighters affectionately called the Tiger from Žuč, lost his life from a mortar shell. Safet Isović died at the height of the liberation of this area, not living to hear the news that Mijatovića Kosa had been liberated. During the war period of seven days, the Second Viteška Brigade was left without its commander and deputy commander.