President Stevandić attended the commemoration of the 79th anniversary of the "Halyard-Air Bridge" operation
The President of the National Assembly of the Republic of Srpska Dr Nenad Stevandic attended today in Boljanic near Doboj the commemoration of the 79th anniversary of the rescue of the Allied pilots in the operation “Halyard-Air Bridge”. On that occasion, President Stevandic laid a wreath in memory of the heroism and the victims of the Yugoslavian Army in the homeland.
The commemoration was also attended by the President of the Republic of Srpska Milorad Dodik , the Minister of Culture in the Serbian Government Maja Gojkovic, the Minister for Work and Veteran’s Disability Protection Danijel Egic, The Minister for European Integrations and International Cooperation Zlatan Klokic, the President of the “Halyard” Foundation John Capello, the representatives of the Third Republic of Srpska Infantry Regiment and the Deputy Minister of Defense in the BiH Council of Ministers Aleksandar Goganovic and the representatives of the city of Doboj.
Addressing the media President Stevandic said that the Republic of Srpska does not flirt with racists and fascists but it cultivates patriotic feelings and remembers those who together with Serbs fought against nazis in WWII.
He pointed to the historical fact that nazis and their assistants killed the people from Slatina who participated in rescuing the four American pilots who were transported from that place. Stevandic thanked the president of the Foundation “Halyard” for cultivating the culture of remembrance at that event in the USA.
“The Republic of Srpska stays dedicated to commemorating all events in coordination with Serbia and in these hard times of security threats to our people, its physical and territorial integrity. I hope we will have enough courage to endure this battle and to win the victory like our ancestors," said Stevandić.
In the action Halyard Air Bridge” which was carried out by the Yugoslavian Army in the homeland under the command of General Dragoljub Draza Mihailovic, more than 500 pilots were saved, and in Boljanic 60 allied pilots.