Today, a central ceremony was held with a formal parade and academy in Maglaj on the occasion of the Day of the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the 33rd anniversary of the establishment of the Third Corps of the Army of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The program began with a gathering in the Homeland Park, from where the ceremonial parade moved towards the city center. Martyrs and fallen fighters were honored there, and numerous delegations laid flowers as a sign of memory.
The ceremony attracted a large number of participants, veterans and family members of fallen soldiers, with the presence of representatives of local and cantonal institutions. In Maglaj, the historical role of the Third Corps in the defense of the country and the symbolism of December 1 for this part of Bosnia and Herzegovina were highlighted once again.
The Federal Minister for Veterans and Invalids of the Defense and Liberation War, Nedžad Lokmić, said today that the 3rd Corps deserves the attention of the whole of Bosnia and Herzegovina and that the attacks on Bosnia and Herzegovina are still ongoing.
“I am proud that today, as a member of the 3rd Corps and as Minister of Veterans, I had the opportunity to give my contribution and participate in this event. I am proud that there is a great response, to see comrades from the entire ZDK and our youth who must inherit what our honorable martyrs left behind. All of them must learn who their fathers and grandfathers were, the fight must continue, the attack on Bosnia and Herzegovina is not over, it is being waged by other means and the youth must understand that,” said Lokmić.
At the ceremonial academy, the Prime Minister of the Zenica-Doboj Canton, Nezir Pivić, also addressed the attendees.
He reminded that on December 1, 1992, the Third Corps was formed, which, as he said, was a key barrier to aggression and participated in a series of important defense and liberation actions throughout the country.
“Even today, we suffer the consequences of the Dayton divisions and lead a political struggle to preserve the integrity and independence of the state, but we fight for every citizen of Bosnia and Herzegovina to have equal rights on every inch of our homeland. This is why we differ from the followers of the ideology of division and genocide, just as we differed during the period of defense against aggression,” said Pivić.
In the end, he congratulated the 33rd anniversary of the formation of the Third Corps, saying that the memory of the war journey of this corps must remain a permanent value.
The host of today’s event is the Municipality of Maglaj, and Mayor Maid Suljaković said in an address to those present that Maglaj was one of the most destroyed cities in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
“Houses, schools, homes and bridges witnessed the kind of destruction that many have not seen, but they did not destroy our values of unity, freedom and the will to live in peace. Our strength was embodied in the RBiH Army, which led not only a military but also a human and moral struggle”, said Suljaković.
He added that they defended the country, the name and the dignity of every citizen.
“Thanks to our Army, today we walk our streets, raise our children in peace and build a city that moves forward. We will never forget your sacrifice, courage and freedom, which is a legacy. This is a legacy for the generations to come, for the youth, to know that freedom is not taken for granted, but that it is fought for and defended,” concluded the head of Maglaj.
Cantonal Minister for Veteran Affairs Adnan Sirovica emphasized that among the members of the 3rd Corps of the RBiH Army there were soldiers from all nations and nationalities from the territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
“Our obligation is not to let the truth about the heroism of the defenders of Bosnia and Herzegovina be forgotten, but also to do everything to prevent the denial of facts, distortion of the truth and attempts to equate the victim with the aggressor,” said Sirovica.
The Third Corps of the Army of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina played a key role in the defense of central Bosnia during the war, relying on a large number of mobilized fighters and strong logistical support from local communities.
The corps was the bearer of the most difficult operations in the area and remains a symbol of resistance, organization and determination.
It was formed on December 1, based on the decision of August 18, by which the then commander of the Supreme Command Staff, Sefer Halilović, ordered the establishment of military corps. The headquarters of the corps was in Zenica, it says Klix.
