President Milanović Receives Authors and Editors of the Book ‘The White Road to Nova Bila and Bosna Srebrena: Testimonies and Documents’
The President of the Republic Zoran Milanović met today with the authors and editors of the book ‘The White Road to Nova Bila and Bosna Srebrena: Testimonies and Documents’. This newly published book features 116 personal testimonies from participants and 37 accounts from organizers of the humanitarian convoy, along with previously unpublished documents and over 200 photographs taken during the White Road to Nova Bila and Bosna Srebrena convoy.
Herman Vukušić, editor-in-chief and one of the book’s authors, emphasized the book’s unique value in presenting authentic and deeply emotional personal testimonies from those who took part in the convoy. The official book launch was held in December last year at the Andrija Štampar School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Zagreb. The event also marked the 31st anniversary of the convoy’s arrival in Nova Bila.
The White Road to Nova Bila and Bosna Srebrena convoy is recognized as the largest humanitarian operation in Europe since World War II, during which approximately 70,000 Croats from central Bosnia were rescued. According to the book’s authors and editors, the publication serves as a vital document safeguarding the integrity of the White Road from historical revisionism. It aims to prevent injustice and ensure that credit and recognition are given to those who truly deserve it. The book is intended to preserve the historical memory of the convoy and the events that took place in Nova Bila, it was stated at the meeting.
The significance of the convoy was also underscored by Fr. Zdravko Dadić, Provincial of the Franciscan Province of Bosna Srebrena, who personally welcomed the White Road convoy upon its arrival in Nova Bila. “It’s important to remember that there were people in Croatia at that time who were brave and determined enough to embark on that journey. For the people of Nova Bila, the convoy changed everything – they realized they had not been forgotten or abandoned,” said Fr. Dadić. A few months after the convoy’s arrival, a peace agreement was reached that ultimately saved the Croats of central Bosnia – an outcome widely attributed to the impact of the White Road convoy.
In addition to Herman Vukušić and Fr. Zdravko Dadić, the meeting at the Office of the President was attended by Ante Čičin Karlov, deputy commander of the White Road to Nova Bila and Bosna Srebrena convoy; Fr. Marinko Baotić, director of the charitable organization “Kruh sv. Ante” – Zagreb; and book editors Romana Eibl, Filip Rukavina, Tea Vukušić Rukavina, and Davorin Višnjić, who also served as the photo editor.
President Milanović was accompanied by Marijan Mareković, Adviser to the President of the Republic for Homeland War Veterans.
PHOTO: Office of the President of the Republic of Croatia / Marko Beljan