Monument to the Army of RBiH fighters "General Mehmed Alagić - Lily Ljuta greda" opened, attended by numerous guests

(Patria) - On Vlašić, with the presence of a large number of guests and citizens, the monument on Ljuta greda "General Mehmed Alagić Lily - Ljuta greda" was opened as a symbol of the victory and pride of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The event was attended by the BiH Presidency member Željko Komšić, Minister for Veterans' Affairs of KS Omer Osmanović, Mayor of Travnik Kenan Dautović, who is also a general of the Army of RBiH, and officials from other levels of government and social life of BiH.

Minister for Veterans' Affairs of Sarajevo Canton Omer Osmanović said that it was a great honor to be part of such a project.

“We are at a historic place, a turning point of our armed resistance when we transitioned from defense to liberation phase of the war. Poets at that time wrote about the 'miracle of Bosnian resistance', and behind it lies military knowledge, experience, and brilliant command coordination that marked the battles on Vlašić. Freedom was won here, and the independence of Bosnia and Herzegovina was achieved. One of those who, with his officer's honor, was a true example of a commander and general, whom his associates and subordinates highly valued and followed in carrying out numerous operations of strategic importance in the defensive war, in which the image of a victorious army was built on his own experience and knowledge, is General Mehmed Alagić,” Minister Osmanović stated at the beginning of his address.

Speaking about the importance of freedom, he further emphasized the importance of the path ahead.

“All those who gave their lives for a free state, for Bosnia and Herzegovina of democratic values, believed that the life of every citizen, regardless of nationality or religion, is equally valuable and equally inviolable. Dear comrades, these are our ideals, and 30 years later, the ideals and expectations of the people and institutions of the state of Bosnia and Herzegovina, which we will make a reality, regardless of the fact that the path ahead is not easy at all, and still requires difficult but necessary decisions from us. Today, you are witnessing that some still want to divide our country, to perceive certain parts of the country as their war spoils - the war spoils of an individual, a party, or one nation. That cannot and will never be possible in BiH! That is not normal in BiH, that is not how people live here, it has never been lived like this,” Osmanović stated.

He added that caring for the state is also caring for every citizen.

“This monument we are erecting today will be an indispensable part of the monumental culture of promoting the truth about the liberation war, especially with a focus on young people, to pay due respect to all victims, to protect the dignity of the Army of RBiH fighters to whom we owe our freedom, and to strengthen the Bosnian-Herzegovinian army and our police, which are the guarantors of the security of citizens, BiH territory, and our borders. It is up to all of us to contribute to preserving the political achievements built over the past 30 years in terms of a culture of peace, coexistence, and development for the benefit of all citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina,” Minister Osmanović said at the end.

The construction project of this unique monument itself lasted about two years, and around the lily, which is 17 meters high, stone blocks were placed, one for each of the seven corps of the Army of RBiH.

Numerous former fighters of the Army of RBiH, who gathered the day before the event, also attended today's ceremony.