BOOK "PALE IN THE DEFENSIVE-PATRIOTIC WAR" PRESENTED

BELGRADE, OCTOBER 30 /SRNA/ – The book "Pale in the Defensive–Patriotic War" by Mileta Forcan, which provides a comprehensive account of wartime operations in the municipality of Pale from 1992 to 1995, was presented today at the International Book Fair in Belgrade.

The author, who was unable to attend the promotion for health reasons, stated in a message read at the event that the book contains a complete list of soldiers from the Pale municipality, as well as a list of those killed in action, including individuals who died in other regions but whose families live in Pale.

For each fallen soldier, Forcan listed the date and place of death, as well as the unit to which they belonged. The book also includes lists of Territorial Defense units, as well as battalion, corps, and brigade units.

"My wish was to leave testimony that, despite attempts to divide us, we did not allow ourselves to become disunited. Both the political and military leadership were aware that any division would lead to our disappearance. Thank God, that did not happen – no brother pointed a gun at his brother. Alongside the creation of Republika Srpska, I consider that our greatest victory," Forcan said.

The book also describes attacks by Muslim formations, such as the tragedy in Žepa, operations "Summer '92" and "Envelope", and other battles fought in 1995, including the NATO bombing of Pale.

"From the very beginning of the war, we have been listening to accusations of being aggressors, of committing aggression. I ask: what where the 400 Muslim fighters from Buturović Polje and Konjic doing on our Trebević and Jahorina in December 1992? Was that also aggression against BiH?" Forcan asked.

Head of Republika Srpska Representative Office in Serbia Mlađen Cicović said that Forcan's book is worth reading for its abundance of data, emphasizing that the author, as a firsthand witness, did not aim to pass judgment but simply presented facts about events and people who contributed to the defense and survival of the Serb people in the Pale municipality.

At the presentation held at Republika Srpska stand, Cicović highlighted the contribution of Stevo Ćosović, editor and owner of the Belgrade publishing house "Svet Knjige", which published the book, noting that he helped preserve from oblivion many individuals who played a significant role in the defense of the Serb people in BiH, including General Vinko Pandurević, whose book he also published.

In Cicović's words, one of the key missions of the Representative Office is to promote a culture of remembrance, ensuring that everything that had happened in the territory of Republika Srpska, where the Serb people preserved their land, is not forgotten.

He reminded that the Dayton Peace Agreement took away part of what the Serbs had defended, and that the Serb people, who accepted the agreement, had already in 1991 and 1992 fought to maintain peace in BiH through the agreement of the constituent peoples, but that the illegal and illegitimate referendum led to BiH separation from the unitary state of Yugoslavia.