34TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE FORMATION OF THE VRS 2ND POSAVINA BRIGADE MARKED

ŠAMAC, MAY 16 /SRNA/ – The 34th anniversary of the formation of the 2nd Posavina Infantry Brigade of the Army of Republika Srpska /VRS/ was marked today in Šamac. Around 7,000 fighters passed through the ranks of this brigade, and awards were presented to the most prominent officers and commanders for their contributions during the war.

Congratulating the award recipients and addressing the attendees, the Prime Minister of Republika Srpska, Savo Minić, urged them never to feel ashamed of the flag under which they stood postured today.

"It was never on the side of Nazism, it was never genocidal, and we never systematically destroyed anyone—the 2nd Posavina Brigade is the ultimate proof of that. We hate no one, but Republika Srpska and its laws must be respected," Minić said.

In his speech, he noted that his protocol as Prime Minister dictates that during visits to any local community in Srpska, he first visits the veterans' organization to speak with the fighters, families of the fallen, and disabled war veterans.

"When I became Prime Minister, I invited the president of BORS /Veterans' Organization of Republika Srpska/ to be a minister. I want every future Government to ask the veterans' organization who the minister for veterans will be, so we can implement what we are planning as early as Tuesday, and restore pride to the Serbian fighter every single day," Minić stated.

He reiterated that the Serbian fighter would be restored to their rightful place, adding that fighters from the Republic of Serbian Krajina, children who lost both parents during the war, and former camp inmates would also be included in the law on veterans' rights.

The President of the Veterans' Organization of the Šamac Municipality, Radovan Zoranović, stated that the 2nd Posavina Brigade originated from the 17th Tactical Group and was decorated with the highest honors of Republika Srpska for its wartime merits.

He noted that the 2nd Posavina Brigade defended a 142-kilometer-long frontline and successfully resisted all attacks until the breakthrough of the Corridor on June 26, 1992, and its connection with the 1st Krajina Corps. Following this, other units from Krajina arrived to jointly defend Posavina, from Šamac to Brčko.

The President of the Šamac Municipality Assembly, Simo Varadinović, said that the establishment of this brigade arose from the need for the self-organization of the people in this region.

"In these peacetime conditions, where it is our duty to nurture a culture of remembrance, the path of the 2nd Posavina Brigade should serve as a guide for all of us regarding patriotism, perseverance, and unity. Only in this way can we preserve Republika Srpska as the fighters fought for it to be," Varadinović said.

Speaking on behalf of the award recipients, Milovan Bajagić from Vojvodina expressed that it was an honor for him to come to Šamac today at the invitation of the fighters and the heroic brigade.

"I am glad they did not allow the sad history of the Serbian people to repeat itself. My heart is full because I came here and saw these brave fighters, and because I get to listen to their stories," Bajagić said.

Following the presentation of the wartime flag, a memorial service was held, and wreaths were laid at the Central Monument to the Fallen Fighters, honoring the 497 fighters from the Šamac area who lost their lives.