Izetbegović: An incapable and subservient alternative has led us into the greatest crisis, from which we will emerge

(Patria) - The Women's Organization of the Party of Democratic Action (SDA) marked its 32nd anniversary in Sarajevo today, and SDA President Bakir Izetbegović addressed the attendees at the ceremony.

Among other things, Izetbegović said that women in SDA have shared good and bad with everyone for more than 32 years.

- You were founded in the darkest times of Bosnian-Herzegovinian history, or at least recent history. In addition to everything else you did, you took special care of the families of martyrs and carried that burden properly.

You played a very important role. You represented us in the right way and in cooperation with very important organizations, and you continue to do so to this day - said Izetbegović.

Speaking about the role of women in SDA, he recalled the numerous important positions that women have held in the past period.

- The first female governor was our Fatima Leho. The first female prime minister of a canton was our Aida Obuća. The first female mayor was Semiha Borovac. The first Minister of Foreign Affairs was Bisera Turković.

Ambassadors, ministers, directors... And it wasn't a gentlemanly gesture by SDA to simply give some positions to women, but they deserved them and carried them out with quality - stated Izetbegović.

In the context of the role of women in politics, he also mentioned former German Chancellor Angela Merkel, whom he described as a natural leader.

- On one occasion, when the issue of constitutional and electoral law amendments was topical, Merkel tried to help us. Members of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina were present, and she brought four of her lawyers.

And then she asked us, one by one, how we saw the solution. I told her to take a blank sheet of paper, which I would sign in advance, and give it to her lawyers to write a solution in accordance with European principles and standards.

She laughed and said that it was because we knew it would be in our favor. I told her: "Now you have told the truth. Civilizational principles, European principles, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, equality of people.

Implement the judgments of the European Court of Human Rights, let experts do it, not politicians who will do it at someone's expense" - stated Izetbegović.

He also recalled the role of SDA in the defense against aggression, and then in the post-war reform processes.

- And where are we today? Where we had a say, which were mostly the most devastated parts of Bosnia and Herzegovina where the most people were killed, are today the most economically stable and the best.

And not only that. If there is media freedom, democracy, an attempt to make Bosnia and Herzegovina a normal multi-ethnic society, it is where we have a say.

Nothing is perfect, nor are we a perfect party, but the biggest progress has been made where SDA had a say. And women have made a great contribution there - said Izetbegović.

He also highlighted the positive role of the international community, which significantly contributed to the implementation of key reforms after the Dayton Peace Agreement, but also to the experiments of the international community that led to mistakes.

He recalled that this was done for the first time in 2000, and for the second time in 2018.

- They start with some 'sixes'. They don't touch parties whose policies are based on attempts to achieve war goals, but they go after us. 'Sixes', 'eights', 'threes'. They organized an 'eleven' against me.

Such persistence has led us to where we are now. They find some alternative, incapable, under-qualified, who talk about meritocracy but appoint the worst cadres, servile and sycophantic, who lied to themselves and the people that Dodik had changed.

We see how he has changed. They have led us to the most difficult political, constitutional, and security crisis, but also to large debts, deficits in public companies... - said Izetbegović.

In conclusion, he pointed to trends that show that the international community has also recognized the mistakes it has made, as well as global trends that should benefit Bosnia and Herzegovina and which will contribute to overcoming the forces that are attacking Bosnia and Herzegovina.