Bećirović: Izetbegović left us a legacy to protect our homeland, unity and humanity

(Patria) - A ceremony was held tonight at the National Theatre in Sarajevo to mark the 21st anniversary of the death of Alija Izetbegović, the first President of the Presidency of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The first to address those present was the Chairperson of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Denis Bećirović, stating that Alija Izetbegović left us a legacy to protect our homeland, unity and humanity.

According to him, the goal of tonight's ceremony is to show respect for that great and deserving man who left an indelible mark on the modern history of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

- Statesman, first president, supreme commander, thinker, philosopher, human rights activist, humanitarian, lawyer - these are just some of the words that describe the character and work of the late Izetbegović - said Bećirović.

He also stated that this wise and brave man taught us through his words and deeds during his lifetime not to respond to barbarism with barbarism, to hatred with hatred, and to destruction with destruction.



He also pointed out that Izetbegović never surrendered to the policies of evil and hatred, and that he believed in and fought for a state where all citizens would have equal rights and freedoms, reports Fena.

- We will not allow anyone to equate the defenders of Bosnia and Herzegovina with convicted war criminals. We will not allow this to the High Representative Christian Schmidt, nor to anyone else.

Accepting a historical lie is a crime in peacetime. Legal and illegal, humane and criminal, civilizational and anti-civilizational cannot and must not be equated.

We will continue to expose the great-state policies that Izetbegović also fought against - Bećirović emphasized.

He stated that attempts to discredit the first president and other individuals deserving of the preservation and development of Bosnia and Herzegovina are part of a dangerous project.