Officials of Republika Srpska and Serbia, delegations and representatives of SUBNOR and organizations stemming from the past war laid wreaths today at the Central Memorial in Mrakovica, on the occasion of commemorating the 82nd anniversary of the Battle of Kozara.
The wreath was laid on behalf of the institutions of the Republika Srpska by the President of the RS Milorad Dodik, accompanied by the President of the National Assembly of the RS Nenad Stevandić, the Minister of Labor and Veterans Danijelo Egić and the Minister of Science and Technology Development and Higher Education Željko Budimir.
On behalf of the institutions of Serbia, the Minister of Labour, Employment, Veterans and Social Affairs Nemanja Starović laid the wreath.
Representatives of organizations and associations from the Second World War and representatives of the cities and municipalities of the Podkoza region, as well as other delegations, laid flowers at the monument.
On the Memorial Wall of the central monument in Mrakovica, the names of 9,921 fighters who died fighting in this area during the Second World War are inscribed.
The laying of wreaths was preceded by a memorial service, which was served by the clergy of the Eparchy of Banja Luka, followed by an address by officials and an artistic program.
The battle on Kozara began on June 10, 1942 and lasted for 27 days, until the breakthrough on the southwestern part of the mountain, 15 kilometers east of the village of Međuvođe.
It is a symbol of the suffering and resistance of the Serbian people in the fight against the Nazis and Ustasha, in which 40,000 civilians were killed, and 68,000 were captured and taken to camps, including more than 23,000 children, Srna writes.
Photo: Srna
