President Milanović in Usora: Croats suffered and gave a lot for BiH, without Croats there is no BiH
“The issue of representation of Croats in the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) is the best and symbolic proof that Croats care about BiH, and they are impertinently denied that right. One should ask why Croats insist so much on something that is not material, that does not bring any millions, billions, any funds, but is entirely a matter of honour and pride,” the President of the Republic Zoran Milanović said today during his working visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina and the community of Usora, which took place on the occasion of Municipality Day and the 31st anniversary of the formation of the 110th Usora Brigade of the Croatian Defence Council (HVO).
“Croats care about this country and they want to be represented (in the BiH Presidency) in a dignified way. Those who systematically manipulate and take that right from them should keep this in mind as a gesture of good faith. Insisting on the subjective and on something that is symbolic says a lot – it also speaks of a community’s willingness to live, to develop, and to be free in a joint state where the only path to a solution is through compromise. I am endeavouring to create and build this compromise, sometimes with more but mostly with less success. I will, however, not give up at any cost!,” President Milanović underscored.
In his address at a special session of the Municipal Council of Usora, President Milanović said it is his wish for Bosnia and Herzegovina to join the EU as soon as possible with all of its three peoples – Croats, Serbs and Bosniaks. “I see that as a reality, but a reality in which our friends from the European Union will have to roll up their sleeves a little because Bosnia and Herzegovina has been waiting too long. And I believe it is not waiting in vain,” said President Milanović.
The President said that in Usora one can see that everything is full of life and people are not leaving. “There is life here. Life has survived here thanks to the sacrifice of these 110 titans on whose shoulders you stand today, from where you see the world around you. Fortunately, there was no bloodshed between Croats and Bosniaks here. Unfortunately, there was a war. In war, people die. The people of this area made a great contribution, not only to the defence of their homes, but also to the liberation, and certainly to the resolution of the war and the end of the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina in 1995. The end of the war was made possible by the Croatian Army, Croatian Guards and Homeland Guards brigades, as well as HVO brigades, in line with an agreement between President Tuđman and Alija Izetbegović enabling the Croatian Army to take part in operations in BiH territory entirely legally and in line with the laws of war, international law and neighbourly relations. Here, there are no issues,” President Milanović emphasized.
Concluding his address and extending his congratulations on Municipality Day, President Milanović told the residents of Usora: “I know how much Croatia means to you, and vice versa. We will do our best to protect your interests and dignity, respecting the country that is our neighbour and where you live. I call on others who are more numerous than you to understand that without Croats there is no Bosnia and Herzegovina. Croats have given a lot for this country, suffered a lot, risked, invested, and are not seeking anything extra in return – just a normal home, right here where they live.”
The 110th Usora Brigade of the Croatian Defence Council was under the jurisdiction of the Vitez Command Area. In the battle of Putnikovo Brdo, which took place after the enemy captured the town of Doboj in early May 1992, the 110th Usora Brigade of the Croatian Defence Council achieved a major victory and kept control of the Usora enclave. Thanks to the 110th Brigade, the Croatian people of the Usora area defended their homes, but also fought elsewhere in the defence of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Also speaking at the ceremony apart from President Milanović were the former Commander of the 110th Usora Brigade of the Croatian Defence Council Nikola Antunović, President of the Croatian Defence Council’s Association of Homeland War Volunteers and Veterans of Usora Nedeljko Matošević, Head of the Municipality of Usora Zvonimir Anđelić and President of the HDZ BiH county branch and Member of the Zenica-Doboj County Assembly and the BiH Parliament House of Peoples Ivo Tadić. Municipal awards for 2023 were presented as well.
Ahead of the special session, President Milanović met with the representatives of local Homeland War associations and laid a wreath at the memorial for the fallen Usora defenders. President Milanović was accompanied at the wreath laying by the Head of the Office of the President of the Republic Orsat Miljenić, Special Adviser to the President of the Republic for Homeland War Veterans Marijan Mareković, Ambassador of the Republic of Croatia to Bosnia and Herzegovina Ivan Sabolić, Military Envoy of the Republic of Croatia to Bosnia and Herzegovina Colonel Davor Kiralj, General Ljubo Ćesić (retd) and Senior Police Adviser Marko Lukić (retd).
PHOTO: Office of the President of the Republic of Croatia / Marko Beljan