Ambassador Hajrić: No scandal caused during BiH Independence Day celebration in Sydney

AUSTRALIA, (Patria) - The central celebration of March 1, Independence Day of Bosnia and Herzegovina in Australia, is scheduled to be organized by the Australian-Bosnian and Herzegovinian Center in Leppington near Sydney. I have been invited and will participate in this ceremony, Ambassador of Bosnia and Herzegovina to Australia Mirza Hajrić told Patria.

Media previously reported that Ambassador Hajrić did not attend the BiH Independence Day celebration organized in New South Wales by the Honorary Consul of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Đemila Gabriel, which was assessed as a scandal. It was also reported that the Premier of that territory, Gladys Berejiklian, attended the reception in New South Wales, so Ambassador Hajrić's absence further put Honorary Consul Gabriel in an awkward position.

Hajrić stated that Honorary Consul Gabriel misled BiH media, that Premier Berejiklian did not attend the reception in New South Wales because she was on an official visit to the USA, and that there are at least three reasons for his non-attendance at that reception:

"The reception was scheduled on Friday during Juma prayer time, so it was attended by about ten citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina, mostly women. The invitation for the reception was sent by the Honorary Consul of BiH to the BiH Embassy in English. I consider this an inappropriate provocation and I previously informed Mrs. Gabriel that I would respond to correspondence in the official languages of BiH. I timely informed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs about the invitation and requested instructions – which I did not receive," said Ambassador Hajrić.

He emphasized that he did not even confirm participation in the reception organized by Honorary Consul Đemila Gabriel for the territory of New South Wales, so his arrival at the reception could not have been expected.

Ambassador Hajrić denies that the Premier of New South Wales, Gladys Berejiklian, attended the BiH Independence Day celebration in Sydney. In the photos from the reception (BiH Independence Day in Sydney) from February 23, published on social media, Honorary Consul Gabriel is wearing a black dress, while in the photo with the Premier published by the media, Consul Gabriel is wearing a white dress.

Hajrić said that the Australian Ministry of Foreign Affairs previously complained that Honorary Consul Gabriel presents herself as a professional consul general, and that she also presents herself as such outside the territory of New South Wales.