Osmanović and Okerić with Delegation of BPK Goražde: Organised and Systematic Halt to Fabricated Indictments Against BiH Defenders

(Patria) - Following information that the Prosecutor's Office of Bosnia and Herzegovina has filed indictments against 13 former members of the Army of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina from Višegrad, Foča and Goražde, who are suspected of war crimes committed in this part of Podrinje, the Chairman of the Sarajevo Canton Assembly Elvedin Okerić and the Minister for Veterans Affairs of Sarajevo Canton Omer Osmanović held a joint meeting with the Prime Minister of the Bosnian-Podrinje Canton Goražde Edin Ćulov, the Minister for Veterans Affairs of this canton Avdo Mirvić, the President of the Foundation "Truth for Goražde" Kasim Brdar, and representatives of the coordination of veterans' organisations of both cantons.

On this occasion, it was emphasised that this time all patriots, defenders and their families will resolutely and organisedly stand in defence of the aforementioned heroes of the defence, and will request from patriotically oriented political representatives at all levels of government in BiH to do everything possible to permanently stop the harassment and persecution of all those who were only defending themselves.

"This is just a continuation of fabricated indictments aimed at equating all actors of the bloody aggression against our only homeland, the same as those filed against Jovan Divjak, Ejup Ganić, Naser Orić, Ilija Jurišić, Husein Mujanović, Osman Osmanović, Edin Vranja... That is why we need systematic action against such frauds, not ad hoc reactions on a case-by-case basis. The Army of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina had an honourable role in defending its people and the state of Bosnia and Herzegovina, no matter how much the enemies want to devalue it. This is supported by the judgments of the International Court, hundreds of destroyed religious buildings on the territory of the aggressor army compared to members of the ARBiH who protected religious buildings of all religions and not a single one was destroyed. That kind of tolerance has not been seen anywhere in the world," said Chairman Okerić after the meeting.

Minister Osmanović expressed support for his colleagues from BPK Goražde in their intention to protect their fellow citizens and heroes of the defence of their city and region, and thanked them for being the initiators of an organised and systematic approach aimed at permanently stopping the continuous torture to which the defenders of this heroic city and part of our homeland are exposed.

"We expect all patriots to unanimously express their firm stance and loudly say that these harassments must stop immediately, especially since earlier some other unfairly conducted court proceedings proved the innocence of the defenders of Goražde and other parts of Podrinje, such as commander Ahmed Sejdić, against whom an indictment has also been filed in this group. We are ready, together with all patriotic forces and residents of our country who truly love it, to stand shoulder to shoulder and, using all legal and other permitted means and methods, defend and support the defence of our comrades," said Minister Osmanović.

Prime Minister Ćulov stated that all perpetrators of individual crimes by members of the defence forces of Goražde and other parts of Podrinje have been punished, and that they have either served or are still serving their sentences, while on the other hand, not a single member of the Vojska RS for whom reliable data exists has been prosecuted and lives freely and moves around the RS, and a significant number also in neighbouring Serbia.

"Enough of the persecution of our defenders. We are determined to put an end to this inhumane and planned activity and stop it permanently," said Prime Minister Ćulov.

At today's meeting, it was also agreed that all organised activities will be led by the Foundation "Truth for Goražde", in cooperation with the coordination of veterans' associations.

"From 1992 until today, we have been in a situation where we defend, defend, and defend... We have never taken a clear stance and launched a counter-offensive, to say - stop, genocide was committed against us and we ask you to respect that, it is judicially established. That was our big mistake, that since the end of the aggression we did not know how to draw a line. I think the moment has finally come when we must resolutely say 'Enough!'", said the President of the aforementioned Foundation, Brdar, on this occasion.

Minister Mirvić reminded all those present at today's meeting of the concrete data on the suffering of the besieged Goražde, which lasted 1,336 days, when over 4,000 civilians were killed, including 120 children, but also emphasised the need for organised action by patriots to say STOP to the planned harassment of the defenders of this city and their families.

"We have over 600 cases returned under category A in the BiH Prosecutor's Office, 848 members of the so-called Vojska RS are planned to be prosecuted before our courts, which were returned to us from the court in The Hague, while 101 members of the Vojska RS live in neighbouring Serbia and are not available to our judiciary," Minister Mirvić reminded on this occasion.

Because of all this that is happening, he also announced that on Monday, 14 August this year, starting at the symbolic time of 12:05 PM, a peaceful protest march will be organised in Goražde, in support of the indicted defenders of this heroic city and part of Podrinje.

It was planned that the Prime Minister of Sarajevo Canton, Nihad Uk, would also attend this meeting, but due to sudden and urgent obligations, he was unable to attend.