Džaferović: We rebuilt Aladža, we cannot bring back human lives

It is difficult to find words that can describe the joy and pride in the hearts of those of us standing before the rebuilt Aladža today, but also of every Bosniak, every Muslim, wherever they may be at this moment. I am convinced that all good people in our homeland, Bosnia and Herzegovina, share the joy of Aladža's reconstruction with us, said Šefik Džaferović, member of the Presidency of BiH, at the beginning of his address today.

We are transmitting Džaferović's address in its entirety:

"I take this opportunity to thank everyone, and especially our friends from Turkey and the United States of America, who contributed to Aladža rising again in all its beauty and monumentality 27 years after a senseless criminal act.

The reconstruction of Foča's beauty is a victory of good over evil, light over darkness, civilization over uncivilization.

Aladža shines again today in the place where it stood for centuries. This is precisely the strongest message to the forces that, in the darkest period of our country's history, tried to erase the traces of a people's existence, their faith, culture, and tradition, even with explosives, and by destroying Aladža, to destroy the centuries-old recognizable values of life together in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Today we confirm that they did not succeed. And they never will. The rebuilt Aladža testifies to this.

Aladža is a mosque, a place where people pray to God. But Aladža is more than that. It is also a monument included in the cultural heritage of Bosnia and Herzegovina and on the UNESCO list of world heritage sites.

Above all, Aladža is a symbol of the survival of the Bosniak people in these areas.

The people of Foča lived with their Aladža. The people of Foča were also killed with it.

Today, we remember with sadness all the innocent victims, whom we will never forget. The bodies of some of them were found in the locations where the stone remains of the mosque were scattered.

We rebuilt Aladža, we cannot bring back human lives.

However, we can ensure that those responsible for the destruction of the mosque and the killing of people are brought to justice.

Because, only in this way, through truth and justice, by confronting the past and punishing those responsible, can we build trust among the peoples of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

We desperately need that trust. Because we have to live together.

Therefore, from this place today, I send a message and an invitation for all of us to sincerely dedicate ourselves to this process. Let the reconstruction of this building be another incentive for rebuilding connections among people of all ethnic groups, faiths, and traditions.

Let us sincerely turn towards each other, with the conviction that our differences do not threaten anyone and that they are our strength, not a weakness.

Dear friends,

In addition to rebuilding damaged buildings, mosques, and cultural-historical monuments, we must all together take care of rebuilding lives, of the people living here on the banks of the Ćehotina and Drina rivers, but also in other returnee areas.

These people must be provided with security, a roof over their heads, but also with jobs that will allow them and their children to live a dignified life through honest work.

A lot has been done in this regard in the past period, especially in the last four years through the engagement of the Federal Ministry for Refugees and Displaced Persons and the valuable Minister Edin Ramić.

However, this is still not enough. The period ahead of us requires us to dedicate ourselves even more decisively and concretely, through special programs, to improving the status and rights of returnees in all parts of our country, especially in Podrinje, along our beautiful Drina River, where we have always been at home.

We want Bosnia and Herzegovina to be a successful and prosperous European country. Success and prosperity will be measured by and will depend on how people live in the areas farthest from the centers.

While we rejoice today at the reconstruction of Aladža, let all of us – people in politics, business, religion, and culture – keep in mind this obligation and duty towards our returnees," said Džaferović.