Helez: Today's Unity in Celebrating Eid al-Adha is the Best Response to Those Who Would Drive Us Apart

(Patria) - Minister of Defence of Bosnia and Herzegovina Zukan Helez hosted a reception tonight at the Parliamentary Assembly of Bosnia and Herzegovina building in Sarajevo on the occasion of Eid al-Adha.



He said he is glad that they gathered again this year to share the joy of this holiday together. Such receptions, he added, are a good opportunity for connecting, socialising and strengthening togetherness.

- Religious holidays are especially significant for all citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina. They carry a message of equality and unity, solidarity and understanding, love and forgiveness.

These universal messages and values are felt, understood and nurtured by the citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina in a special way, and have been applied for centuries with their closest ones - neighbours, friends and fellow citizens.



I am convinced that the joint celebration of Eid and other religious holidays of all confessions will remain a tradition that will live forever in our country - said Helez.

For centuries in Bosnia and Herzegovina, he further emphasised, we have been directed towards each other and we need each other. We are each other's joy, but also comfort.



- Today's unity in celebrating Eid al-Adha is the best response to those who would drive us apart.

To every person, their homeland is the most beautiful country, and so it is for me with Bosnia and Herzegovina. Once you are born here, you stay here, no matter where you are, your heart is tied to this soil.



Our homeland Bosnia and Herzegovina is a country rewarded with diversity. Our differences are something we bring as a value into our common life, and our similarities are our potential and chance for a better and more prosperous future for all of us.

Bosnia and Herzegovina is our responsibility. We must take responsibility for the future of this country and its citizens into our own hands.

We cannot expect others to do the work for us and that others care more about this country than we do. We cannot avoid the shared responsibility for peace, justice and security in our homeland - stated Helez.



The strength of our homeland, he continued, lies in our ability to build bridges of dialogue, to find a way and overcome obstacles.

- I am convinced that only in this way will we make our institutions more successful and stronger, for the benefit of all of us. Strong state institutions are the only guarantee of equality, freedom and security for all of us.

It must not be allowed for anyone to be above the law. Our country is currently going through a challenging period. Our institutions, our Constitution and legal order are under attack from those who do not like them.



I am certain that Bosnia and Herzegovina will emerge from this crisis stronger and more robust. This crisis and our struggle will produce perseverance, character, hope and unity among all those who consider Bosnia and Herzegovina their country.

I believe in us, I believe in our homeland, in our institutions, I believe in our better future. We will build a safe environment for our children and secure for them a future worthy of the times we live in. In that name, thank you to everyone who, with their presence, enhanced the joy of Eid al-Adha, Helez said.