Izetbegović: We have a state, the determination to preserve it, and the courage we have shown countless times

(Patria) - The vision of SDA was founded long ago by President Alija Izetbegović, and it is very clear and precise: a free and prosperous Bosnia and Herzegovina, a country of free people with equal rights who enjoy diversity in a rich society.

This was stated today at the conference "Vision 2043 - 100 Years of Modern Statehood of Bosnia and Herzegovina", organized in Sarajevo by the Senate, the Political Academy, and the Youth Association of SDA.

The conference was opened with an introductory address by the President of SDA, Bakir Izetbegović, reports Faktor.

- We have a state, we have the determination to preserve it, and the courage we have shown countless times. In a word - we have ourselves. And we should value ourselves at least as much as others value us. For example, two prominent Americans, both of whom knew well what they were saying.

The first is the recently deceased, and not well-disposed towards us, Henry Kissinger, who, in his analysis of the situation in BiH made towards the end of the war, stated that "Muslims, despite the embargo, formed a formidable military machine." Kissinger also recognized the "miracle of Bosnian resistance".

The second is Richard Holbrooke and his famous statement "if it weren't for Alija Izetbegović, there would be no Bosnia and Herzegovina." Both were imprecise, because the Army of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina was not Muslim, nor solely Bosniak, it was a Bosnian and Herzegovinian army.

And Alija did not defend Bosnia and Herzegovina, but he did lead those who "despite the arms embargo formed a formidable military machine." Imprecise, but it doesn't matter. It is clear who they meant. They meant our people and their leaders - Izetbegović stated, among other things, in his introductory address.

The President of the SDA Senate, Nedžad Branković, stated that no one chooses the country in which they will work, and that Bosnia and Herzegovina is our destiny.

- No one is creating a new vision for Bosnia and Herzegovina until 2043 today, when it will be 100 years of modern Bosnia and Herzegovina. We have 80 years of a very dynamic, historical period behind us, and by analyzing that period, we want to assess what we need to do in the next 20 years - Branković stated.

Their task, he adds, is to activate the thinking potential within SDA, as well as in a wider circle of people who support them, in order to define tasks within a longer planning horizon, the next 20 years, in order to prepare the country for a comfortable life for the coming new generations.

- In any case, visions are terminated by forces that resist clear visions, and we want to identify these forces that challenge our vision, but also to find answers to these challenges. The forces that are against Bosnia and Herzegovina will get tired, but we will not - Branković stated.

He claims that a European Bosnia and Herzegovina is one of the ultimate goals, but that to achieve this goal, a broad network of activities and individual strategies in several sectors of action must be developed.

- Such a simple goal requires many individual programs, projects, the engagement of large human resources and other resources to build it - he emphasized.

Therefore, as Branković said, today three topics will be discussed: the constitutional and legal position of Bosnia and Herzegovina and security capacities, then population and demographics, and finally the economic system, energy independence, and infrastructural integration into the overall space.

- Everything that constitutes the programs of these sectors of action actually leads to the goal of a European Bosnia and Herzegovina - he added.

Speaking about the current situation, Branković said that all potentials who love BiH and who connect their present and future to it should be alerted.

The Director of the SDA Political Academy, Sedad Dedić, said that the Party of Democratic Action, as a responsible political organization, strives to impose a discussion about strategic goals and interests for the citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina in the public space, as opposed to daily political goals, positions, and confrontations, and in this way focus public attention on what will truly bring about a more advanced state and a better existence for the citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

- The position of the BiH Constitution is currently not sufficiently utilized. The Dayton Constitution is a process and provides an opportunity to improve that legal system - he said.

Dedić explains that there are numerous decisions of the Constitutional Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina that must be implemented.

- We are facing a challenge that the law, to be law in the full sense of the word, must have active and strong instruments of physical coercion. And in this way, to stop and eliminate the negative actions of all actors who do not respect the legal system, who endanger the security of all citizens. There should be no irreplaceable legal norms - he stated.

He claims that the law must stand as legal security and framework and must never stand above life, adding that today's conference is not intended to conclude and end.

He concluded that this is only the beginning of a multi-month activity that SDA will conduct in developing an adequate, constructive program, which will, in a certain way, be an additional challenge to all political rivals to compete in finding good solutions for Bosnia and Herzegovina.