Alija Izetbegović, thinker, visionary, statesman, and friend

By: Murat Tahirović

The statement by the High Representative about the late Alija Izetbegović has triggered a series of reactions and condemnations, and represents the culmination of continuous slandering of the late president.

The OHR's denial has only intensified the condemnations and reactions. Attacks, discreditation, slander, and belittling of Alija Izetbegović have been ongoing since the moment he first spoke about freedom and rights, and have culminated since he spoke about his country, an independent Bosnia and Herzegovina, a country of equal and free people.

What they cannot and will not forgive us is our resistance led by Alija Izetbegović, which brought BiH military, political, and legal victory. They did not destroy BiH and they did not succeed in dividing it.

The Army of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina survived despite attacks from as many as five military components: VRS, HVO, Fikret Abdić's army, JNA - VJ, and HV.

The political victory is the legal continuity of BiH, and the legal victory in The Hague through two final and binding judgments of Joint Criminal Enterprise, one led by Slobodan Milošević and the other led by Franjo Tuđman.

In the nineties, our state was called “Serbian Republic of BiH, Croatian Republic of Herceg Bosna” Autonomous Province of Western Bosnia, Greater Serbia, Greater Croatia, Greater that Serbian one, that Croatian one and… all their projects failed.

Alija Izetbegović is the personification of our resistance. Until we understand this, we will constantly wonder and be surprised by attacks on the late Alija Izetbegović.

All those who fought and are fighting for BiH and who love BiH are aware of this, and precisely all of us must simplify the matter in order to defend ourselves from constant attacks and discreditation of the late Izetbegović as the personification of our resistance.

Any lamenting by us about who Alija Izetbegović was, what he did, what he was involved in, that he was a great man for some Holbrooke or that he was recognized by the “East and West” contributes NOTHING to the response to Greater-state policies and deniers of BiH and genocide.

Today's situation in BiH is characterized by aggressive Greater-state policies towards BiH, and that is why the attacks on the late Izetbegović are at their peak.

Those who fought and are fighting for BiH for future generations must reach a consensus around the institution called Alija Izetbegović in four words. Alija Izetbegović is a statesman, thinker, visionary, and friend.