Izetbegović: The future of our country is in integration, connection, and understanding

SARAJEVO, (Patria) - Bakir Izetbegović, member of the Presidency of BiH addressed the public on the occasion of March 1st, BiH Independence Day.

- Independence Day, March 1st, holds a special place in the calendar of important dates in the history of Bosnia and Herzegovina. On that day, 26 years ago, the citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina determined the fateful path of their homeland and its future.

The people of this country, 64 percent of them from all ethnic and religious communities, bravely and with dignity voted in the referendum for a sovereign and independent Bosnia and Herzegovina, a state of equal citizens and peoples, Bosniaks, Serbs, and Croats, as well as members of other nations living in it.

There would be no Bosnia and Herzegovina, nor would we be celebrating this significant festive day today, if the most honorable, bravest, and best sons of Bosnia had not defended this country from the aggression that followed. They did not only defend our cities and villages; they consistently defended and protected the essential civilizational values of the modern world. Therefore, we must never forget them.

The future of our country lies in integration, connection, understanding, and joint efforts to leave a stable framework for progress for the generations to come, for the building of a tolerant society based on European values and standards, in which dialogue and mutual respect will be the foundation for the betterment of all.

This is our debt to past, present, and future generations.

I congratulate all citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina on Independence Day from the bottom of my heart - reads Izetbegović's congratulatory message.