President Milanović in Derventa decorated 103rd HVO Brigade: Dayton Agreement safeguards balance in B-H and status of Croats
The President of the Republic Zoran Milanović attended today in Derventa, Bosnia and Herzegovina, a celebration of the 31st anniversary of the foundation of the 103rd Brigade of the Croatian Defence Council (HVO) Derventa. On the occasion, the President of the Republic presented the Order of Nikola Šubić Zrinski to the 103rd Brigade of the Croatian Defence Council Derventa for the demonstrated prowess of its members in the Homeland War.
“I decorated this brigade because it deserves it and it was a long time coming because their contribution is unforgettable and big. It’s hard to describe in words. Six hundred and fifty people perished, more than one hundred of your fellow fighters of the Muslim faith were killed. That was a big sacrifice made to defend the home and the state of Bosnia and Herzegovina, whose national anthem we heard now with the same reverence as our Croatian national anthem. This has to be highlighted – we know what’s ours, we don’t go after what’s not ours, but we know what we have to defend”, President Milanović told the gathering in his address.
He noted that the Croatian people in Bosnia and Herzegovina went through a difficult time during and after the war. “The Dayton Agreement pacified some, and deeply disappointed others, like you. But there was no other way and I think that it’s important – for the Croatian side in general – to underline and close certain matters if possible. In Croatia when Posavina is mentioned, then most people, especially those who have nothing to do with it, will say – it was a betrayal, it was sold out, it could have been defended”, President Milanović noted, and underlined that he doesn’t think so, moreover “it’s a miracle that Posavina and Derventa defended themselves for several months with so few weapons and so few resources”.
He reminded that Croatia as a state that had just been recognized took a huge risk to be present in Posavina because the decision was not simple. “It was a very problematic decision politically. Croatia exposed itself quite a lot, namely the people who led it – President Tuđman and his associates – and they should be given credit for that. Those were necessary and the only right decisions. The enemy of the time, Belgrade and the Bosnian Serbs, were much more powerful. It’s not a shame to lose from somebody stronger and incomparably better armed. Therefore it was not a betrayal, but a heroic battle fought by a small number of people who gave themselves, exposed themselves to a great extent, perished, were wounded, and when nothing more could be done, went to Croatia”, the Croatian President stated.
After today’s gathering in Derventa he said that there will again be silent grief, emptiness and an illusory presence that is kept by the spiritual shepherds, the Catholic priests. President Milanović added: “The Dayton Agreement is very important because it safeguards and guarantees the balance of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the status of Croats – of Serbs and Bosniaks too – and anyone who dares touch it and meddle in it, is not on our side and we will oppose them. Not by force because there is no more time and circumstances for this, but with a clear stance and rude reply”.
“Once again I congratulate you and express deepest gratitude to all those giants on whose shoulders we stand. Were it not for them, today we wouldn’t have something to talk about. We have to ask ourselves an unambiguous question, in what time we wish to live and for what reason these are the best times. I believe that these are times of peace, understanding, cooperation, patience, but also of an awareness of our own interests and resistance to being led into conflicts and disagreements we have nothing to do with. We are a small people and first of all we have to think of ourselves. This is a time for us, for our interests, and at the same time of respect for the interests of those who surround us and with whom we live. We can’t solve big issues. We have a state that was created by the people I will decorate today”, President Milanović stated in concluding his address.
Also speaking at the ceremony besides the Croatian President were the president of UDIVDR 103rd HVO Derventa Brigade Marinko Nikolaš, Veterans Minister of Posavina County Ilija MIšković, president of the Croatian Generals Association, delegate of the Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Croatia and Veterans’ Affairs Minister Marinko Krešić, member of the Croatian Parliament, delegate of the Speaker of the Croatian Parliament Josip Šarić. On behalf of the 103rd Brigade HVO Derventa wartime commander Mato Biljonić thanked for the decoration.
Prior to the celebration of the 31st anniversary of the foundation of the 103rd Brigade of the Croatian Defence Council (HVO) Derventa and holy mass in St. George Church, President Milanović paid tribute to the fallen members of the 103rd Brigade of the Croatian Defence Council (HVO) Derventa at the “Rabić” cemetery and the Muslim cemetery in Derventa.
Paying tribute alongside President Milanović were the Head of the Cabinet of the President Bartol Šimunić, the Special Adviser to the President for Homeland War Veterans Marijan Mareković, the Adviser to the President for Defence Ivica Olujić, the Ambassador of the Republic of Croatia to Bosnia and Herzegovina Ivan Sabolić, the Consul General of the Republic of Croatia to Banja Luka Zoran Piličić, and the military attaché of the Republic of Croatia to Bosnia and Herzegovina Davor Kiralj.
PHOTO: Office of the President of the Republic of Croatia / Tomislav Bušljeta