A tribune organized by the movement “Defense of Srpska” was held in Banski Dvor, attended by colonels, soldiers, generals, and all those who contributed to the preservation of Republika Srpska and Serbia during the NATO aggression in 1999.
The messages from the surviving soldiers were once again centered on a singular wish—to preserve from oblivion all the suffering and hardships endured by the Serb people. Through the “Defense of Srpska” movement, they aim to safeguard the history of the Serb people.
“We have the special honor as the movement for the defense of Republika Srpska to host and support our heroes, survivors from Košare, Paštrik, commanders, General Koniković, Colonel Šljivančanin, their comrades, and collaborators. This was the crucial defense against the ground operation of NATO aggression, Albanian terrorists, and radicals, aimed at the southern province of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia/Republic of Serbia. That battle marked the survival and existence of the Republic of Serbia, the Yugoslav army, and Yugoslavia during that period, and provided the conditions for the creation of Resolution 1244,” said Matijašević.
He emphasized that the Serb territory is indivisible.
“The Serb battlefield is indivisible, and for that reason, we, the veterans of the Defensive-Patriotic War, respect this in such a manner. All our battles, victories, achieved by these wonderful heroes and our soldiers, officers, and our people, were fought in a manner that was crucial for the entire Serb nation,” he stated.
Retired Colonel Duško Šljivančanin, wartime commander of the 53rd Border Battalion of the Priština Corps, reminded that the Battle of Košare was fought between the Yugoslav Army and the terrorist KLA, supported by the regular Albanian Army and NATO forces, on the Yugoslav-Albanian border from April 9 to June 10, 1999, under constant bombardment by NATO aviation.
“I feel particularly honored to be in Banja Luka. I can’t speak much about the battles because I’ve said before that in Srpska, every position is like Košare and Paštrik. Believe me, I am honored to be here, and this isn’t my first time. I was one of the participants in the march marking the tragedy in Vozuća, and I walked the entire route of the march. I am well-acquainted and connected with these regions, and I often mention in Serbia, to veterans’ organizations, that the Veterans’ Organizations in Srpska are well-organized,” Šljivančanin added.
Nikola Šobot, the head of cardiac surgery at the University Clinical Center Banja Luka, stated that as much as it is important to honor all the victims of the Defensive-Patriotic War, it is equally crucial to preserve from oblivion those who gave the most, both for Republika Srpska and during the NATO bombing in 1999.
“It is an exceptional honor and pleasure for me to be part of this gathering, and that is why I am here today. It is an honor that we have gathered to remember these people and to ensure that we do not forget everything that happened, and to pass on this knowledge to future generations, so they know what took place in these regions,” said Šobot.
Source: RTRS
