Event “Defence of BiH – Igman 2015” held, the aggressor did not succeed in its intention

More than 10,000 people gathered at Veliko Polje on Igman to attend the event “Defence of BiH – Igman 2015”, reports the news agency Patria (NAP).

The fiercest battles between the militarily far better equipped army of the Republika Srpska and the Army of the Republic of BiH took place during April 1993.

The Serbian army shelled the positions of the Army of the Republic of BiH for days, thus gaining a great advantage, but the Army of the Republic of BiH showed unprecedented courage in hand-to-hand combat that took place in the Igman forests. The Serbian army was stopped and their units were broken up, writes Patria.

The organiser of the event Defence of BiH Igman 2015 is the Sarajevo Canton.

The event was briefly interrupted today by heavy rain, but the commemoration programme soon continued.

At today's central event, it was stated that the citizens of BiH must preserve the memory of the fighters who gave their lives so that current and future generations in the country could live in freedom.

The ceremonial programme began with a flag parade and the playing of the national anthem.

Those present were addressed by the Bosniak member of the Presidency of BiH, Bakir Izetbegović, who emphasised that it is important to commemorate the events through which the freedom that citizens of BiH enjoy today was achieved.

“We are a people who forgive, but we must not forget what happened to us. We did everything to avoid war. We are a good and honest people, and we did not start any war, but we emerged from every one with our heads held high,” said Izetbegović.

The event was attended by the Prime Minister of Sarajevo Canton, Elmedin Konaković, the Minister for Veterans' Affairs of Sarajevo Canton, Muharem Fišo, and numerous other members of BiH's political life.

The President of the Organising Committee and Prime Minister of Sarajevo Canton, Elmedin Konaković, told those present that it is the obligation of all of us to convey the message that the aggressors did not succeed.

BiH actor Emir Hadžihafizbegović performed the well-known monodrama “My Only Homeland is Bosnia”.

Among the 10,000 attendees were a large number of veterans, families of martyrs, and citizens who came to mark this significant date in the history of BiH.