Dunović: Those responsible for setting fire to part of the Temple should be sanctioned

On the occasion of the arson of the storage area of the Temple of the Transfiguration of the Lord, the Vice President of the Federation of BiH, Milan Dunović, visited the Temple today.

- I expect that after a swift and efficient police operation and criminal investigation, the Cantonal Prosecutor's Office of Sarajevo Canton will take all measures to adequately sanction those responsible for setting fire to part of the Temple. If this is a case of deliberate arson, we would once again be dealing with retrograde forces attempting to destroy any form of coexistence in Sarajevo and Bosnia and Herzegovina. In Sarajevo, special attention was paid even during the war to preserving religious buildings from those who deny any form of togetherness and multiculturalism. I believe that Sarajevo has civilisational and historically reached such a level of tolerance and coexistence that this act takes us back to the Middle Ages. I strongly condemn such an act, because I am sure that the citizens of Sarajevo of all nationalities and religions do not want divisions that lead to the destruction of the security and property of religious buildings. Whoever is capable of committing such an act or justifying it knows nothing about the history of Sarajevo and Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Furthermore, Dunović commented on the statement by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Serbia, Ivica Dačić, who "demanded" an urgent investigation, while simultaneously stating that regarding the announced referendum in the RS, he does not wish to interfere in the internal affairs of BiH.

- I believe that Mr. Dačić cannot "demand" from Bosnia and Herzegovina, as a sovereign state, to undertake what is within our jurisdiction. He can offer support to the legitimate authorities of BiH or condemn the actions of those working to destroy church property and create insecurity among believers. If Mr. Ivica Dačić has decided not to interfere in the internal affairs of BiH when it comes to the referendum in the RS, let it remain so in this case as well - said Dunović.