HISTORY OF YUGOSLAVIA WRITTEN IN THE SUTJESKA VALLEY

FOČA, JUNE 14 /SRNA/ – The history of Yugoslavia was written in the Sutjeska Valley, where thousands of brave soldiers from all parts of the former country gave their lives in a superhuman battle during the Second World War for the highest ideal – human freedom, it was stated today at the marking of the 83rd anniversary of the Battle of Sutjeska.

Republika Srpska Minister of Energy and Mining Petar Đokić stressed that in 1943 one of the most glorious battles and victories of the Partisan army in the Second World War was fought at Sutjeska. “Despite German forces being superior with more than 120,000 elite troops, supported by Italian, Ustasha, Bulgarian and other collaborationist formations, facing around 22,000 Partisan fighters, they failed to break the resistance,” Đokić recalled. He said this sent a powerful message that the sense of freedom, dedication to freedom, belief in freedom, and determination to defend it can overcome all obstacles. “This is an opportunity to pay tribute to all who gave their lives here, around 7,500 of them. A large number of wounded were also lost here, as this was the main Partisan hospital with around 4,000 wounded. The magnitude of their sacrifice must always remind us and never allow forgetfulness to prevail,” Đokić said. The envoy of the Serb BiH Presidency member, Boško Tomić, said that Serbs have always been a freedom-loving people who fought not only for their own freedom but also for the freedom of all peoples in these areas. SUBNOR Republika Srpska Presidency member Rajko Ćapin said that the heroic fighters of Sutjeska, without sparing their lives, brought freedom and peace. SUBNOR Serbia Presidency member Bole Lukić said that a fierce and superhuman battle was fought in the Sutjeska Valley and surrounding mountains. “The victims must not be forgotten or marginalized. The history of Yugoslavia was written in this valley, which is why we come here every year to pay tribute and remember all the heroes who broke through the German encirclement and ultimately brought freedom to our country in 1945,” Lukić said. Zoran Marinović from Podgorica said that a large number of people from Montenegro come every year to the Valley of Heroes. “I would like more young people to understand how brave our ancestors were and how much they sacrificed for us to have freedom,” Marinović stressed. Tomislav Ponjavić Užice stated that the memory of the heroes of Sutjeska must never fade. “This is a place where everyone should come to pay respect to the victims; I consider it our Mount Athos. I have great respect for all the heroes who fell for freedom, regardless of religion or political orientation,” Pojavić stated.