Flower laying and tribute mark anniversary of the First Corps of the Army of RBiH

SARAJEVO, (Patria) – Numerous delegations laid flowers and paid tribute today at the Kovači Martyrs' Cemetery to the fallen members of the First Corps of the Army of RBiH, which was founded on this day in 1992.

Flowers were laid by the Chairman of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina Šefik Džaferović, member of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina Željko Komšić, and at the grave of the first President of the Presidency of RBiH Alija Izetbegović.

"It must be said that the First Corps of the Army of RBiH was the corps that defended the capital of BiH. If it hadn't been defended, it's questionable what would have happened to the whole of BiH. This will surely enter the textbooks: the First Corps defended Sarajevo, which was almost completely surrounded. The entire defense was a miracle of Bosnian resistance, and the First Corps played a special role in all of this. It showed that the human desire for freedom is so strong and powerful that there are no weapons or tools that can conquer it. This was shown by the dignified defense of the capital," said Džaferović.

"When I remember the first moments of March and April 1992, and what it was like and how it was, and the insane courage of the people in Sarajevo, who literally went unarmed to defend their city and country, until the First Corps became a truly organized force. Not just in my opinion, but objectively, they achieved significant military successes," said Komšić.

Komšić stated that the First Corps defended and protected Sarajevo, and that he does not want to diminish the rest of the ARBiH in doing so. He reminded that there were mistakes, but that, as he said, there was the strength to confront the enemy.

Numerous delegations paid tribute to the members of the First Corps of the Army of RBiH today, and the commemoration will conclude with this evening's Ceremonial Academy at Kovači.

Flowers are also being laid at other martyrs' cemeteries and graveyards.