Celebration of March 1 in Vlasenica

VLASENICA, (Patria) - The Bosniak cultural community “Preporod” marked March 1 - Independence Day of Bosnia and Herzegovina in Vlasenica.

Members of Preporod visited the “Rakita” cemetery on Friday, while a cultural and entertainment program was held in the premises of Preporod.

Students from schools in Vlasenica and Milići were awarded for the best literary and art works.

Independence Day of Bosnia and Herzegovina is a national holiday celebrated on March 1 each year, marking the independence of Bosnia and Herzegovina from Yugoslavia. Adult citizens of the then Socialist Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina voted on the independence of Bosnia and Herzegovina in a referendum held on February 29 and March 1, 1992.

The referendum question was:

“Are you in favor of a sovereign and independent Bosnia and Herzegovina, a state of equal citizens, peoples of BiH - Muslims, Serbs, Croats and members of other nations living in it?”

The authorities in the Republika Srpska, an entity in Bosnia and Herzegovina, today refuse to recognize March 1 as Independence Day, so this date is celebrated in that part mainly by Bosniak and Croatian returnees.