Generals Mareković and Dudaković Recall Historic Meeting During Operation Storm

A historic meeting between Croatian General Marijan Mareković and Bosnian General Atif Dudaković on August 6, 1995, symbolized a crucial turning point during Operation Storm. The encounter occurred on the Korana bridge at Tržačka Raštela, on the state border, marking the junction of the Croatian Army and the Fifth Corps of the Army of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

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Mr. General, welcome. We have waited a long time for you, but we have finally met.

This meeting signified the deblocking of Bihać, a city that had been surrounded by Serb forces since the summer of 1992. The Croatian Army's advance connected with the Fifth Corps, which, alongside the Croatian Defence Council (HVO), had been defending the besieged city. The Fifth Corps had advanced into Croatian territory during the fighting, reaching Grabovac on the Rakovica–Plitvička jezera road, before withdrawing back into Bosnia and Herzegovina as per an agreement with the Croatian side.

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Thirty years have passed. But we had already been at war for four and a half years as soldiers and officers. At that moment, I felt elated, and this event was a kind of friendship that is not forgotten. The meeting of two victorious armies with the same goal, and that is liberation.

The iconic photograph capturing the handshake between Generals Mareković and Dudaković became a powerful symbol of this moment. Ivica Matošević, an officer in the propaganda and information department of the 1st Guards Brigade "Tigrovi," documented the event. He described the atmosphere as one of "elation" and a "friendship that is not forgotten," representing the meeting of "two victorious armies with the same goal: liberation."

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They were impressive. And I stand by that sentence. They were friendly. They were true professionals up to the task. Other officers were like that too. I remember how they gifted each other pistols. Beautiful moments, but God forbid, there is nothing beautiful in war, as they say, except that victory, and that moment is short-lived.

Matošević, who has since shared his wartime experiences with schoolchildren, emphasizes the importance of freedom and victory, but also the need to combat prejudice and injustice through culture, knowledge, and respect. He recalled the generals' demeanor as "impressive," "friendly," and "professional," noting they exchanged pistols as gifts during the encounter. Despite the solemnity of war, these moments underscored a shared sense of purpose and camaraderie.

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When I talk to children about the Homeland War, I always emphasize that there is nothing beautiful in war except freedom and the feeling of victory. I always tell them: commitment to culture, knowledge, respect, these are ways we can overcome prejudice and injustice in human relations.