B-H Presidency Chairman Sulejman Tihic’s speech
at the celebration of liberation of the Suada Dilberovic and Olga Sucic Bridge
Sarajevo, May 27, 2006
“Ladies and Gentlemen, Dear citizens of Sarajevo
Mr. Minister Mekachera, Admiral Lanxad, General Gobilliard,
Esteemed Ambassador of the Republic of France to B-H Mr. HENRY ZIPPER DE FABIANI,
Members of the Diplomatic Corps,
Exactly eleven years ago, May 27, 1995, two French soldiers AMARU and HUMBLOT, gave their lives right here, on the Suada and Olga Bridge in a mission of peace in then surrounded Sarajevo.
This is an opportunity to remind ourselves of that event:
Early in the morning, on May 27, the French lookout military positions, right beside the Vrbanja Bridge in Zagrebacka street, was suddenly occupied by the Serbian paramilitary formations dressed in the UN uniforms. The French Military Command considered this situation unacceptable and ordered a counterattack. That meant the liberation of the post, during which two French soldiers w ere killed and 17 were wounded.
Their action signalled the turning point in International Peace Forces’ approach to the war in Bosnai-Herzegovina. Until then, mostly the observers of the B-H citizens’ sufferings, they became active participants in preventing and stopping the war and establishing a permanent peace and stability in Bosnia-Herzgovina.
In this fashion, France ended an absurd logic of behaviour of the International Peace Forces that equalized the aggressor and the victim. Under its influence, disposing of the forces for quick intervention and lifting the siege over Sarajevo, the NATO engagement, the cessation of hostilities, and in the end, signing the peace agreement, all soon came about.
Therefore, in a certain way, this action has become a pioneer in new politics of the International Community in which France had had a significant role.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Bosnia-Herzegovina and its citizens cannot forget what France had done for our country.
Eighty-four French soldiers gave their lives for the establishment of peace in our country. They will forever remain in our memories.
Today, ten years after the establishment of peace, we can say that their sacrifice was not in vain.
The established peace has never been violated; Bosnia-Herzegovina is on a good way to join the Euro-Atlantic integration. We are conducting powerful reforms. We are integrating the society. We are reconstructing the multi-ethnic structure of our country. We are building a unity of diversity based on the multi-century long tradition of our peoples’ co-existence.
Only ten years ago, the world sent soldiers to peace-establishing missions in B-H. Today, our military and police forces are participating in the international peace missions worldwide. B-H is no longer just a receiver but also a provider of an international military assistance.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I want to express my extreme pleasure with the fact that the Ambassador of the French President, Mr. Hamlaoui Mekachera the Minister for Veterans’ and Admiral Jacques Lanxade the Commander of the French Army Headquarters during that action, as well as General Gobilliard the UNPROFOR Commander in the sector of Sarajevo of that time are here with us today. Their presence here is a proof of friendship between our countries.
Once again, I wish to emphasize the important role that French President Jacques Chirac had had in putting and end to the war and the establishment of peace.
The friendship between Bosnia-Herzegovina and France has a long, long tradition. Two hundred years ago, France appointed its first consul to our country.
France was also the first country to accredit an ambassador to an internationally recognised and independent Bosnia-Herzegovina - in June 1993. The citizens of Sarajevo will never forget the fact that the first French ambassador, Mr. Henry JACOLIN had shared with them their most difficult war days in our surrounded Capital.
Because of all that, we are convinced that France will continue strongly to support Bosnia-Herzegovina and now, when our country is in a decisive phase of a European path.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
This site has a special symbolic meaning for the City of Sarajevo. Here, in 1992, fell a first victim of war. On the same place, French soldiers AMARU and HUMBLOT were killed, which signified the beginning of war in our country.
This and other events remind us of our past, which we must accept, our present, which we have to use in the best possible way and to build a better future for all our peoples and citizens.
We want these and similar sufferings never to happen again in our country, as well as anywhere else in the world!
Long live Bosnia-Herzegovina! Long live the Republic of France!
Long live the friendship between Bosnia-Herzegovina and France!