Dr. Cerić: Every person, every family in BiH must feel they have a state

Dr. Mustafa Cerić has officially announced his candidacy for the Bosniak member of the BiH Presidency in the upcoming General Elections. The BiH news agency Patria conveys Dr. Cerić's speech in its entirety, which began with expressing sympathy for all citizens of our country affected by the floods, and he appealed to everyone at home and abroad to help them.

- Today I announce my candidacy for the Bosniak member of the BiH Presidency and, without any hesitation, I put all my abilities at the service of dedicated work for the benefit of all citizens of our country. I did not make this decision alone, nor lightly. From family to friends, from associates to fellow citizens, from our friends in Croatia and Serbia, to our partners in America, Europe, and friendly countries of the East, I have received encouragement and support for my candidacy. Why did I decide to take this step? Because I believe that the Bosniak member of the Presidency has the right and the obligation to use their work and actions to make the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina the strongest mechanism for developing and preserving the statehood of BiH – said Cerić.

He further stated that he wants the role of the Bosniak member of the Presidency to be decisive by initiating a unified state policy that will oblige state institutions and political entities, especially Bosniaks as the majority nation, who bear the greatest responsibility for the fate of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

- From the position of the state leadership, the Bosniak member of the Presidency should establish institutional communication with all citizens of BiH. Twenty years has been enough for transition; it is time for a united position in the interest of all citizens. It is time for a unified state policy, free from narrow party interests and personal desires. I have decided to take this step because I feel that in the upcoming October elections, we have the last chance to change our difficult situation in the country and society for the better – says Cerić, emphasizing that he wants to highlight three things that will form the backbone of his future political and general social activities – the fight for human rights and freedoms, security for all our people throughout the territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as the security of our country in the context of all current geopolitical events, and what drives everything and guarantees stability, which is economic progress.

- First, we have a chance to unite to abolish structural discrimination in the form of state institutional dominance of majority ethnic groups to the detriment of the rights of minority ethnic communities in our country. This is imposed discrimination on our state and our society, and therefore, above all, we free and independent citizens must fight against this discrimination in the spirit of our centuries-old tradition of equality for all without distinction. Therefore, the 'Sejdić-Finci' verdict against the state of BiH is not just a matter of human rights, but also a moral issue for all of us who believe in the rights and freedoms of every resident of BiH. It pains us that our progress on the path of Euro-Atlantic integration is being challenged and slowed down due to something for which we are neither guilty nor responsible. Therefore, our intention is, with the support of free and independent citizens of our country and with the help of friends in the world, to abolish this structural discrimination and thus ensure that all citizens of our country have the right to choose and be chosen. This is a matter of our human honor and dignity. This is a matter of our culture and civilization.

- Second, we have a chance to convince our friends in the West and the East with the utmost seriousness and responsibility that the peace and security of Bosnia and Herzegovina are of global importance, and therefore it is necessary to urgently implement the already agreed political decision among all political entities for our country to become a member of NATO, thereby ensuring its lasting peace and stability for the entire region. This year, 2014, marks the centenary of the First World War. After all, Sarajevo deserves to live in peace without fear of war, and the whole of BiH deserves to be a safe place for all its citizens to live.

- Third, we have a chance for economic recovery and social justice by uniting in an effort to show ourselves and the world that we are a country that respects human rights and freedoms, that we are a country of lasting peace and security, that we are a country of exceptional natural resources, that we are a country of great human potential, that we are a country of internal solidarity, and that we are a country of great economic opportunities. We are a proud nation that does not want to live on the charity of the West or the alms of the East. We are an intelligent and capable nation that can live from its knowledge. We are a hardworking nation that wants to live from its work and abilities. If we, the citizens, give him confidence as the Bosniak member of the Presidency of the state of BiH, my strategic plan is to gather our people at home and abroad who work in large and reputable corporations to help us create a Marshall Plan for BiH to emerge from the economic crisis, especially after the recent terrible floods. My seven years of experience at Davos at the World Economic Forum give me the right to say that I understand that in a globalized world, economic progress can only be achieved if you are capable of cooperation based on fair and sustainable partnership. Therefore, it should be clear to all of us that for investments in Bosnia and Herzegovina, we need partners in the East and West, South and North. There are no economic investments from the East without stable partnership in the West. Likewise, there are no investments from the West if we are unable to have economic support from the East. There is no economic growth without a constant presence on a global scale. For this global story, our country has the human potential that needs to be gathered and organized in a fair and sustainable way. For us, half-measures and unilateral solutions are the worst. We must seek comprehensive solutions for all citizens. Every person, every family in Bosnia and Herzegovina must feel that they have a state, that they have their representative in power, that they have their member in the Presidency who cares for all citizens.

- Dear Bosniaks, I accept the challenges and responsibilities on your behalf in the interest of the state of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and I widely extend a friendly hand of cooperation to both the political left and the political right in order to strongly build the middle path of the center. I extend my hand of cooperation especially to young people who are voting for the first time in October. I want them to know that it is never too early to give the best they have and know for their country and people, just as it is never too late to work sincerely and dedicatedly for the common good of the state and society. The combination of the life experience of the elderly and the life energy of the young is the strongest force that drives new processes from neglect to capability, from illiteracy to knowledge, from poverty to wealth, from hopelessness to hope for a better tomorrow, God willing. Also, I express my special respect to women, our mothers and sisters, who have been and remain role models of sacrifice for the noblest goals of our society.

- These are my messages with the hope that they will receive the support of all who believe that the past has realized its one possibility, but that the future has multiple possibilities. Therefore, let us choose the best one, which is freedom from fear and misery, which is the elimination of all forms of discrimination, which is full integration into Euro-Atlantic flows, which is economic recovery based on comprehensive and sustainable economic development for Bosnia and Herzegovina! The recent events that destroyed the homes of Bosniaks, Serbs, and Croats have shown that human solidarity lives within us, among us, and knows no borders. It is time to build our state in the new atmosphere of trust, friendship, and universal human values. With these thoughts, I wish you all the best – concluded Dr. Cerić.