Ambassador Šošić at Reception in Stockholm: Political Systems Changed, Borders Shifted, but the Idea of Bosnia Endured

(Patria) - A diplomatic reception was held on March 3rd in the Baroque Hall of the Historical Museum in Stockholm to mark Bosnia and Herzegovina's Independence Day, organized by the Embassy of BiH in Sweden.

The reception was attended by representatives of 44 embassies from six continents, members of the Swedish parliament, representatives of the institutions of the Kingdom of Sweden, the academic and cultural community, and numerous friends of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Patria reports.



The Historical Museum in Stockholm (Historiska museet), in whose representative space the reception was held, is one of Sweden's most significant cultural institutions.

Its Baroque Hall, known for its monumental interior and ceremonial ambiance, is often the venue for important cultural and diplomatic events, lending the reception marking Bosnia and Herzegovina's Independence Day an additional symbolic dimension.



The Ambassador of Bosnia and Herzegovina to Sweden, Bojan Šošić, addressed the attendees, recalling the referendum held on February 29th and March 1st, 1992, when the citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina expressed their political will for an independent state.

That act, Ambassador Šošić emphasized, was not merely procedural. It was a confirmation of political agency: the citizens' decision to take responsibility for their state and their future.

Šošić highlighted that independence is not just a formal legal status, but a continuous political commitment and a process that is constantly reaffirmed.

- Independence, in this sense, is not just a legal status. It is a choice. And more importantly, it is a lasting act - Ambassador Šošić stated.

Speaking about the historical continuity of Bosnia and Herzegovina, he recalled that the present-day state has deep historical roots.

- Through centuries, through kingdoms, empires, and modern forms of statehood, Bosnia has had its symbols, its coats of arms, its insignia…

Political systems have changed. Borders have shifted. Orders have emerged and disappeared. But the idea of Bosnia has endured - said Ambassador Šošić.



In this context, the exhibition "Signa et Insignia Bosnae," presented during the reception, held a special symbolic significance.

The exhibition, created by Sarajevo artists Adis Elias Fejzić and Danis Lan Fejzić, was realized in collaboration with archaeologist and art historian from Mostar, Edita Vučić, and through contemporary artistic interpretations, it presents the medieval coats of arms and heraldry of Bosnia.



Ambassador Šošić also touched upon the contemporary challenges to the international order, emphasizing that the world is in a period where the fundamental principles of international relations are increasingly being questioned.

- We live in a time when concepts such as international law, the rule of law, and a rules-based order risk becoming historical references rather than living obligations - Šošić warned, Patria reports.



He added that in such circumstances, consistency with universal moral principles is particularly tested.

- This is a time when we are tacitly expected to decide which dead children are worth mourning and which are not. In such moments, principles either endure or they quietly erode - Šošić stated.

Speaking about the political development of Bosnia and Herzegovina after the war, he recalled that the Dayton Peace Agreement stopped the devastating aggression three decades ago, but that the constitutional evolution of the state remains a long-term process.



- Peace has been secured. Constitutional evolution remains a permanent task - Šošić added.

Concluding his address, he said that the survival of Bosnia and Herzegovina throughout history rests on the will of its citizens.

- Bosnia and Herzegovina has survived because its citizens chose it. That choice is important today. And a Bosnia that is true to itself is a truly European Bosnia - Šošić added.

Himna Bosne i Hercegovine u izvedbi Kanite Kahrimanović na obilježavanju Dana nezavisnosti Bosne i Hercegovine, Barokna sala Historijskog muzeja u Stockholmu, 3.3.2026. pic.twitter.com/4OmswgX7dP

— Bojan Sosic 🇧🇦🇸🇪🇪🇪🇫🇮🇪🇺 (@BojanSosic) March 4, 2026

On 3 March 2026, the Embassy of Bosnia and Herzegovina in Stockholm hosted a diplomatic reception marking the Independence Day of Bosnia and Herzegovina 🇧🇦.

Remarks by Ambassador Bojan Šošić and Carl Michael Gräns, Deputy Head of Department for Europe and North America at… pic.twitter.com/5JHNm86CCx

— Bojan Sosic 🇧🇦🇸🇪🇪🇪🇫🇮🇪🇺 (@BojanSosic) March 4, 2026

Carl Michael Gräns, Deputy Head of the Department for Europe and North America, addressed the attendees on behalf of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Sweden.



As part of the reception, a cultural program was held featuring Kanita Kahrimanović (flute), Senad Kačar (guitar and vocals), and Mona Rosell (violin and vocals), while guests had the opportunity to view an exhibition dedicated to the heraldry of medieval Bosnia, Patria reports.