4th of April Marked in Tuzla - A Significant Date from Tuzla's Recent History

TUZLA, (Patria) - On the occasion of marking April 4th, a significant date from Tuzla's recent history, and respecting all measures prescribed by competent authorities related to preventing the spread of the pandemic, the Mayor of Tuzla, Jasmin Imamović, the President and Vice-President of the City Council, Nataša Perić and Sunčica Delibegović, laid flowers at the monuments to the Partisan Brigades 1941-1945, the Golden Lilies, fallen defenders of Tuzla and BiH in the liberation war 1992-1995, and at the cemetery of civilian victims of the war, victims of the Kapija massacre on May 25, 1995.

Further below is the Address by the Mayor of Tuzla on the occasion of April 4th, a significant date from Tuzla's history:

'On this day 28 years ago, councilors of the Municipal Assembly of Tuzla gathered, in a seemingly hopeless situation, and made decisions on the joint defense of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Tuzla, and of all its citizens, regardless of their nationality or any other affiliation. The Assembly, which had councilors from eight different nations and comprised eight parties, made a unanimous decision, thus April 4, 1992, is also the day of the triumph of unity in diversity.

Today, we are faced with a world war against coronavirus. When reporting data on infected individuals, doctors and governments speak of men and women, and finally, they do not speak of nations, because every person is affected, and all people together must fight against the pandemic. In the war against COVID-19, it is not states with powerful weaponry and strong economies that win, but states and cities whose citizens find the strength to control themselves, maintain discipline in implementing measures, mutual trust, humanity, and empathy. Only high morale of each individual, or at least the vast majority of individuals, can lead to victory.

Therefore, let us be good to each other, let us protect ourselves and others. All those who are infected or in isolation must be disciplined, honest, and help doctors prevent the pandemic. Others should refrain from stigmatizing the infected, as this could happen to anyone. No one got infected intentionally; rather, something they all fear happened to them. If current infected individuals and their families are exposed to stigma, future infected and isolated individuals will become frightened and start hiding symptoms, which will be good for the spread of the virus and bad for all of us together.

The day before yesterday, the Budget rebalance was adopted, and the first economic measures were taken aimed at providing relief to business entities and citizens. Yesterday, the City Civil Protection Headquarters of Tuzla ordered the Red Cross of the City of Tuzla, as its protection and rescue service, to establish and implement the complete organization of providing assistance in the procurement and distribution of basic food items and personal hygiene products for individuals who are recipients of permanent financial assistance from the Public Institution Center for Social Work Tuzla, as well as for individuals in a state of social need. Secretaries and members of the local community councils were instructed to make themselves available to the Red Cross of the City of Tuzla in order to organize the distribution of aid to persons covered by the Order, who are over 65 years of age and have no family members or close relatives to deliver the provided assistance to them. The City Council accepted all the decisions we prepared in order to mitigate the economic and social consequences caused by the pandemic. The City Administration and the City Headquarters are working continuously and daily.

Please, stay at home, keep your distance; the virus cannot survive if it does not spread from person to person. Let's defeat it with our isolation and distance. Keep your heads up, let's focus on fighting the virus, not each other. Let's fight as brothers and win.'"