Dear soldiers, officers and generals,

Dear families of shaheeds and killed combatants

Dear citizens!

I CONGRATULATE YOU DAY OF THE ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC OF BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA

On today's day, 19 years ago, following the Decree by the Presidency of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina, all armed formations, in the entire territory of our homeland, were put under unified command of the Territorial Defence Staff. That decision followed immediately after the international recognition of the state of Bosnia and Herzegovina  on 6 April by the European Community and 7 April by the United States of America. The Army was formed under conditions where there was a powerful military presence of the former Yugoslav National Army, helped by the paramilitary, demonstrating force, harassing and intimidating, and soon after killing, persecuting, looting and observing other kinds of criminal behaviour which caused enormous evil to the population of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

It is for the historical, military and political significance of such Presidential Decree, that 15 April 1992 was chosen as Day of the Army of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Our generation, which took part in the establishment, development and military action of the Army of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina marks this date each year with pride and dignity.

We will do all necessary to keep this day in memory of the nation so that the future generations of the patriots of the state of Bosnia and Herzegovina can continue the tradition of marking such a significant date.

The emergence and development of the Army of Bosnia and Herzegovina was an act of responsibility, patriotic and political maturity of the then state leadership, members of the Presidency: Nijaz Duraković, Ivo Komšić, Mirko Pejanović, Ejup Ganić, Stjepan Kljujić and Tatjana Ljujić-Mijatović, headed by the President and Supreme Commander of the Presidency Alija Izetbegović. Their decisions, fateful for the state of Bosnia and Herzegovina, responsibly followed political and patriotic determination of its citizens and peoples. It is this harmony of their historically significant decisions and patriotic aspirations that ensured unpresedented mobility, determination, persistence and readiness of the citizens to put in effort and sacrifice with an aim to defend Bosnia and Herzegovina as a social and state community of equal and free peoples of different ethnicity and religions.

The Army, together with the police of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina, boldly stood up to disproportionally stronger armed force of the agressor, under brutally unfavourable conditions of shamful arms embargo and strategic encirclement, with defence forces completely separated from the sources of supply for war, life and humanitarian needs. In that sense, the history of wars does not account for a case where a state had to defend itself under such complex conditions as Bosnia and Herzegovina faced. Additionally, there is no similar example in the history of war where the moral and patriotic connection of the people, army and state leadership was so strong as was in Bosnia and Herzegovina from 1992 to 1995. 

It is for this reason that we are so proud of our Army and behaviour of its members.

Lets remember that time and those people!

Lets keep our pride!

Lets keep our dignity!

We will achieve this only if we fulfill the moral and all other kinds of obligations towards the veteran population, the families of shaheeds, killed combatants, war veterans and civil war victims. And we will achieve this once we fulfill the goals for which we fought and died – when we build a state and society in which every respectable citizen of this country will see a clear and optimistic future for him/herself and his/her children. 

As we can see, unfortunately, the situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina is very complex. The blockade of the necessary reforms is causing enormous damage to all citizens and peoples. The threats to the territorial integrity, constitutional order and peace in this region have continued. All those who do this must know that we will defend our homeland, Bosnia and Herzegovina, by all means and at all cost! 

We will defend it, first and foremost, with wisdom and benevolence. We have to, not only in words but in action, stand for intra-national trust, because co-habitation of people with different ethnicity and religion in this region does not have an alternative. I call on Bosniaks, Serbs, Croats and all citizens to respect each other and offer neighbourly help, as such behaviour will be good for all of us. And those who are resisting the reforms I advise to stop  undermining the prosperous future which the citizens of our homeland are offered with integration into the European Union and NATO.

It is a futile job. The times of disintegrations is forever behind us. People are facing harder living conditions each day. You cannot employ or feed them with irrelevant stories of vulnerability and calls for separations and conflicts. It will only deepen the crisis and further us from the solution, from a better life which each citizen of this country finally deserves.

Good tendencies, democracy, reconciliation and unification must override the tendency of stagnation and disintegration that is threatening to all. Let's be optimistic and turn towards the future. Let’s rationally interpret the interests of the peoples and citizens of this country. And let's start in the right direction.

Finally, once more, I congratulate the 15 April, Day of the Army of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina to all patriots of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Thank you.

Zenica, 15 April 2011

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