Izetbegović and Efendić at Rallies in Srebrenica and Bratunac

(Patria) - Pre-election rallies of the coalition of the Party of Democratic Action and the Party for Bosnia and Herzegovina were held in Srebrenica and Konjević Polje, where the coalition's candidates for the Municipal Assembly of Srebrenica and the Municipal Assembly of Bratunac, as well as the joint candidate of pro-Bosniak parties for the Mayor of Srebrenica Municipality, Hamdija Fejzić, were presented.

SDA President Bakir Izetbegović addressed the rallies, highlighting numerous dangerous events and trends in the world, the region, and within the country that affect the situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina, particularly returnees to the RS entity.

- Intra-Bosniak or intra-Bosnian rivalry, which regularly turns into hostility in politics, is particularly dangerous. We must avoid this, lest we forget the goal in the struggle for power, which is the stability and security of this country. Poor, unrealistic Bosniak assessments are also a problem. You know this well in Srebrenica. The Law on Residence is an example. First, they expelled the SDA, and then they expelled people from their rights. Such things must not happen to us again. We must fight against it tenaciously. A bloc capable of opposing this is slowly and spontaneously forming – said Izetbegović.

He emphasized that in Srebrenica, they will not focus on SDA's political opponents from the FBiH.

- There is only one problem here, one adversary, and that is radical nationalism which is trying to complete genocidal plans and policies. It is time for us to clarify the picture for ourselves, to admit our mistakes if we made them, to learn from them, to achieve unity, and to make short-term and long-term plans. And, God willing, to achieve victories because we have all the prerequisites for victories. Among other things, 70 percent of VAT is generated by territories where Bosniaks are the majority. Next is our diaspora, which is only now taking shape and has enormous strength – stated Izetbegović.

The SDA president pointed out the importance of electing Hamdija Fejzić as the Mayor of Srebrenica, and electing as many councilors as possible to the Municipal Assembly of Srebrenica and the Municipal Assembly of Bratunac as a response to retrograde policies.

- We want peace with our Serb neighbors. We have no problem with well-intentioned people, of whom there are a majority among each of the Bosnian peoples. Both we and the Serbs have a problem with genocidal policies. They took our lives, and they took the honor of honest Serbs. Today, they poison the present and future of both – said Izetbegović.

Izetbegović recalled that in the past period, during the mandate of Minister Edin Ramić, the budget allocated for returnees was doubled, and that projects worth 20 million KM were realized in Srebrenica and Bratunac during that period.

- Unfortunately, that budget has now been taken over by those who spend it more in the Federation, where they have mayors whose chances of staying in power they want to increase – added Izetbegović.

He emphasized that the SDA actively supported the work of associations of genocide victims, and that without these associations, such as the Mothers of Srebrenica, the UN Resolution on the Genocide in Srebrenica would not have been adopted. He also recalled the pressure exerted by the SDA on high representatives to amend the Criminal Code to include sanctions for denying genocide and glorifying criminals, and to amend the Election Law to prevent convicted criminals from running in elections and holding office.

He added that the SDA is the choice of the people for good reason, not the choice of SNSD-HDZ alliances, the choice of foreigners, newly rich individuals, and leaders of narco-cartels, unlike, as he put it, some other parties.