Thirty Years Since the Relocation of “Orao” and the Exodus of Serbs: We Succeeded Through Effort, Unity and Planned Work
This year, “Orao” a.d. Bijeljina will mark the 30th anniversary of the exodus of Serbs from Sarajevo and the relocation of the company from Rajlovac to Bijeljina. During three months of arduous work and extraordinary effort, employees managed to transfer all production capacities to the Semberija region, enabling this aviation company to continue its operations and preserve its future.
On this occasion, employees of “Orao” recalled the most difficult period of their professional careers. Slobodan Četić, Executive Director for Quality and Laboratories, stated that he remembers the relocation as an extremely demanding undertaking, but also as a time marked by remarkable determination and strength.
“In 1995, we operated as a Military Post of the Army of the Republika Srpska and held strategic importance for the Republika Srpska. At the beginning of December, an order arrived from the Ministry of Defence and the General Staff — relocation to Bijeljina. A company built over 47 years had to be transferred down to the smallest detail within three months. Some estimates suggested it would take several years, yet we accomplished it in just three months. I believe this speaks volumes about the will and strength of our people,” Četić emphasized.
He highlighted the extraordinary unity and teamwork that prevailed despite harsh weather conditions and temperatures dropping to minus ten degrees Celsius.
“From the management, led by Mr. Milan Prica, to the worker who carried the last load during the relocation — everyone deserves recognition. Thousands of trucks transporting equipment, hundreds carrying workers, families of the fallen, and their entire lives into a new environment it was all deeply moving and difficult, yet worthy of remembrance,” Četić added.
Tomislav Paunić, President of the Veterans’ Organization of “Orao,” recalled that during the Homeland Defense War, 23 members of the company were killed and 75 were wounded.
“We held our lines throughout and never gave in, while simultaneously maintaining our work processes. When the relocation order arrived, we laid down our weapons and undertook what seemed to be an impossible task within such a short timeframe. However, we worked from the heart — and that is why we succeeded. Our generation is aging; in a few years there will be no veterans left. It is therefore important that the memory of the achievement we accomplished together endures, as well as the sorrow for the homes we were forced to leave behind,” Paunić stated.
Dragan Lontoš, President of the Trade Union Organization of “Orao,” extended greetings to all retirees who participated in the 1995 exodus and relocation.
“We have more than one hundred retirees, all direct participants in the exodus, and I regret that due to technical circumstances we will not be able to host all of them this year. They know they have not been forgotten and that we are fully aware of their contribution. The emotions connected to the relocation of the company and the exodus of our people are profound and heavy. Those were days of disbelief, when we could hardly comprehend that we were leaving behind something we had defended heroically with our blood. Such is life — we began a new chapter in Bijeljina; many of our children were born here, yet the emotions toward our homeland remain. We endured every sacrifice first and foremost for ‘Orao,’ and also for the younger generations who will succeed us and continue to build the company,” Lontoš concluded.
Tomorrow, February 21, a commemorative event marking the 30th anniversary of the exodus of Serbs from Sarajevo and the relocation of “Orao’s” production capacities from Rajlovac will be held within the company’s premises in Bijeljina.
