11.04.2024.

Minister Vučević attends ceremony to mark death anniversary of Košare fighter Ivan Vasojević in Sjenica

Today, on the occasion of the anniversary of the death of Sergeant Ivan Vasojević, who died in the Battle of Košare on this day in 1999, Minister of Defence Miloš Vučević unveiled a commemorative plaque on the building in Ivana Vasojevića Vasketa Street in Sjenica, where the fallen soldier had lived.

Minister Vučević, accompanied by the Head of Office of the Minister of Defence, Brigadier General Goran Momčilović, and the Chief of Staff of the Army Command, Brigadier General Zoran Dragićević, laid a wreath on the grave of Sergeant Vasojević in Donje Goračiće near Sjenica.

Wreaths were also laid by Minister of Labour, Employment, Veteran and Social Affairs Nikola Selaković, Minister of Construction, Transport and Infrastructure Goran Vesić and Minister of Tourism and Youth Husein Memić with representatives of the Municipality of Sjenica, members of the Vasojević family, members of the Serbian Armed Forces and representatives of the Association of Košare and Paštrik Veterans.

Even though the occasion for the gathering in Sjenica and Pešter was a sad one, Minister Vučević said, the fact that we have such heroes and such families as the Vasojević family is also a cause for pride.

- His family is as unfortunate as their son was. Their son experienced physical death, and his family has suffered and struggled for him not to experience the worse kind of death – falling into oblivion. They have struggled hard not to allow his heroic deeds and the heroic deeds of his known and unknown comrades, who died for the fatherland, to be forgotten. Thank you all for coming here today, especially his comrades. I would also like to thank the Vasojević family for their patience, and to apologize to them for having had to wait for this for almost 25 years. Thank you to my friends, not because they are ministers, but because they are people, above all to Nikola and Goran, thank you to Husein for being here, thank you to the Municipality of Sjenica. We have all come together, both Serbs and Bosniaks, both Orthodox and Muslims, to honour our heroes. Because this is a state for all its citizens, no matter which nationality or religion they belong to - stressed Minister Vučević.

Speaking about the part of the road that was built between the family home and the final resting place of the Košare hero, Minister Vučević said that it was not a big road, but that it was extremely important for him personally, because it was a token of respect for those who had laid down their lives so that we could build new roads now.

- It's the least we can do. Thanks, also, to the Ministry of Labour, Employment, Veteran and Social Affairs for launching the great initiative of awarding the Veterans Commemorative Medal as a form of recognition. Some might say that it is a mere formality, but I say that it is a way for the state to show its respect for those who gave their lives for it. Eternal glory to all the heroes of all patriotic wars, may their names never be forgotten, may future generations learn about them. Eternal glory to the heroes of Košare, a battle that continues even today - Minister Vučević said.

Minister Selaković said that it was his honour to visit, together with his fellow ministers, the Vasojević family, father Grujo and mother Anđelija, and to present a Veterans Commemorative Medal to those wonderful people, who had given their only son Ivan to the motherland. On this day, 25 years ago, he died pulling out a wounded soldier on the third day of the battle, he said.

- With his act of heroism and philanthropy, which is rarely seen today, he set an example for modern generations. That is why it is our duty, as a country, society and generation, to save his sacrifice and heroism from oblivion. One of the ways to do it is to award the Veterans Commemorative Medal, because in this way we remember the family of the fallen soldier. In this way, but also by building roads, by providing help to family members, we show that we have not forgotten our heroes’ sacrifices, that we remember them and that we will mention them in years, decades and centuries to come. Because only those whose names are mentioned have value - said Minister Selaković.

Speaking about the importance of taking care of our citizens, Minister Vesić said that at the suggestion of Minister Vučević, a 1.5 kilometre road was built to Donje Goračiće. It is not about how much it cost the state, he said, but about what it means to people.

- This is a sign that our country is developing and that now we can solve people’s real life problems such as this one, and there are many more that have yet to be solved throughout our country - Minister Vesić said.

Minister Memić thanked ministers Vučević, Vesić and Selaković for coming to Sjenica and for visiting the Vasojević family. He also thanked for being given the opportunity to visit the family of the fallen Košare fighter himself.

- Their son defended his homeland. Among the defenders were Bosniaks as well, and being a Bosniak myself, I am glad to be here today. The least we can do is to honour the fallen soldiers and visit their families once a year - said Minister Memić.

Minister Vučević and his fellow ministers visited the house in Donje Goračiće, spoke with Sergeant Vasojević’s family and toured the newly built part of the road between Vasojević's grave and his family’s house. Minister Selaković presented Sergeant Vasojević’s family with a Veterans Commemorative Medal - a special national medal awarded to persons who have acquired veteran status under the Law on the Rights of Veterans, War-Disabled Veterans and Civilians and their Family Members.

Sergeant Ivan Vasojević was 24 years old when he was killed in action on April 11, 1999, defending the national border from Albanian terrorists. He was posthumously awarded the Order of Merits in Defence and Security First Class.