The Independence Day of Bosnia and Herzegovina, March 1, was marked in Sarajevo by raising the national flag on the Hum hill above the city, paying tribute to the fighters who defended Bosnia and Herzegovina, the murdered children and other civilian victims of the past war from the beginning of the nineties, as well as the victims of the Second World War.
Numerous delegations from the state and federal, cantonal, city and municipal levels, the army and police, veterans’ associations from both wars and other citizens and admirers of Bosnia and Herzegovina attended the laying of flowers at the graves and memorials dedicated to the fallen veterans, the murdered children of the besieged Sarajevo 1992-1995, to the murdered policemen in the Great Park, victims in the Vraca Memorial Park and at the Novi Grad Memorial.
Out of respect for the victims, at each of those locations the Fatiha was recited or a minute’s silence was observed.
Today, delegations from all levels of government paid tribute to the martyrs and the first president of the RBiH, Alija Izetbegović, by reciting the Fatiha and laying flowers at the Kovači Martyr’s Cemetery in Sarajevo, on the occasion of March 1, the Independence Day of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Advisors laid flowers on behalf of the members of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Željko Komšić and Denis Bećirović. Other representatives of the municipal, cantonal and federal authorities, as well as representatives of veterans’ organizations, also laid flowers at the cemetery.
The Vice President of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Igor Stojanović, told journalists on the occasion of this national holiday that March 1 is an opportunity to promote the state of Bosnia and Herzegovina on an even greater level.
“Bosnia and Herzegovina has shown that it is moving forward strongly. Today it is in danger, it was also when its inhabitants decided for independence, but there is no need to be afraid, because such a large number of those who strive for its independence and statehood are a guarantee that Bosnia and Herzegovina lasts and will last,” said Stojanović.
The Independence Day of Bosnia and Herzegovina has been celebrated since 1992, when a referendum was held on February 29 and March 1 and the majority of Bosnians and Herzegovina voted for a democratic and independent state.
The recognition of the independent and sovereign country followed on April 6, 1992, by the European Union, and a day later by the United States of America.
Independent Bosnia and Herzegovina was admitted to membership of the United Nations on May 22, 1992.
Despite the four-year war conflagration ignited that year by the military aggression against this country, the huge number of human victims, the unimaginable suffering and trauma of the survivors, severe material destruction and devastation, Bosnia and Herzegovina emerged from this difficult period with preserved state-legal and historical continuity.
This is still the case today, a country of exceptional natural beauty and many other, more or less well-known values.
Its cultural and historical heritage, layered and multifaceted, testimony from several eras, is appreciated by visitors from all over the world as an additional attraction when they visit this country in the southeast of Europe, Fena reports.
photo ©️ Fena
