Delegations representing the City of Sarajevo, Sarajevo Canton and the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina laid wreaths on Wednesday at the Sarajevo Memorial for Children Killed During the Siege, marking the Day of Defence of Sarajevo.

The memorial was built in memory of some 1,600 children killed during the Sarajevo siege, which lasted from 1992 through 1995. On this day every year, delegations representing local authorities and war veterans in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina – Bosniak and Croat dominated Bosnia’s entity – pay respects to fallen soldiers and killed civilians in numerous events.

Bosnian Minister of Transport and Communications Ismir Jusko said on this occasion that everyone should turn towards a better future and build up the state together. “To wage wars in the sectors of the economy, sport, in sectors that would return our youth to Bosnia and not make them leave,” Jusko added.

Former Prime Minister of the Sarajevo Canton Elmedin Konakovic said this memorial site was among the most emotional ones, and that it described the character of war in Bosnia. He underlined that Bosnia must survive on grounds of the unity and multi-ethnicity.

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