Izetbegović in Maglaj: It is not the same to walk on a flat road and on a gravel road uphill while two people hinder and slow you down

(Patria) - In the Maglaj Cultural Centre "Edhem Mulabdić" this evening, on the occasion of the Statehood Day of Bosnia and Herzegovina, a forum titled "Homeland in the Heart - Responsibility in Deed" was held, organized by the Municipal Organisation of SDA Maglaj.

Those present were addressed by the President of SDA Bakir Izetbegović, who, answering questions from the programme host, said that the success achieved in Bosnia and Herzegovina after the aggression is also measured by the resistance it faced.



- Had it not been for ZAVNOBiH, there would have been no independence of Bosnia and Herzegovina later. It was not perfect. Above all, it did not sufficiently recognise our people. There have always been those who counted on time exhausting us and that this country would eventually be divided.

The next big step was taken through the decision on independence, but we received a response in the form of aggression. They did not succeed in winning, they did not succeed in dividing BiH. The miracle of Bosnian resistance followed. The Dayton Peace Agreement was again not perfect, but we have been improving it further since.

RS had its own army, its own border service, its own intelligence service, its own indirect taxation service... It is not the same to walk on a flat, smooth road that is not bumpy, and to walk on a gravel road uphill while two people hinder and slow down that path.

That is exactly how we have been moving for the last 35 years. We have invested enormous effort and I believe that, considering these resistances, we have done a great job. Despite everything, we are moving forward - said Izetbegović.

Speaking about the role of young people in SDA and politics in general, Izetbegović highlighted the Mayor of Maglaj Municipality Maid Suljaković, who, as he said, is a contemporary of SDA's first victory in 1990.

- I personally made an effort to open up space for young people in SDA. In the Presidency of SDA, I created two positions for those under 35. Of course, young people will become wiser and more experienced with age. Especially in politics.

However, young people also bring new energy. They are the future, the perspective lies with them. It is our duty to pass on knowledge to them. That is why young people will always get a chance in SDA - Izetbegović stated.

Answering a question about the upcoming General Elections and political processes after the elections, Izetbegović said that the leading party will take responsibility and appoint personnel to the most responsible positions.

- The task of the future federal prime minister will be to continue the good work done by Fadil Novalić. When his government was formed in 2015, I promised that in the next ten years we would create 100,000 jobs.

At that time, various journalists and analysts were racing to mock my statement. And it did not happen as I promised because we created 100,000 jobs in six years. This healed a sick Federation, the kind that Nikšić left to Novalić. It made all economic parameters positive.



Our goal will be to end poverty, to provide a better life for citizens. At this moment, one average salary in FBiH covers only 50 percent of the consumer basket. In five years, I want that to improve by 50 percent, in ten years by 100 percent. We promise double salaries in eight to ten years, double pensions in eight to ten years. SDA can do this - Izetbegović emphasises.

He adds that the most devastated parts of BiH after the aggression were those where Bosniaks are the majority, and that these very parts are today the most successful, which, as he said, is a confirmation of capability and knowledge.

Speaking about SDA's proposal for the Law on Proportional Representation, Izetbegović said that those who strive for domination and apartheid oppose this law.

- If you let someone give you your right, you will not get it. When you try to rise from that position, they will clamour that you are striving for domination. The law is a tool to implement the Constitution, and the Constitution is clear. The entire structure of government must be in accordance with the structure of the population. We must create a tool with sanctions to punish those who do not implement it - Izetbegović stated.

In conclusion of his address, he emphasised the importance of unity, which is undermined by the activities of foreign centres of power and intelligence services.

- It is our duty to be like a father in the house, to forgive some bad things, not to forget them, and to unite. This country has two serious problems. One is the attack on its constitutional and legal order, and that is the smaller problem. Those who carry out this attack are exhausting themselves.

The citizens of the RS entity live much worse compared to the citizens of FBiH. There we need unity in a pro-Bosnian bloc. We must create a strong bloc that will not allow them to inject the virus of division into us.

The second, bigger problem, which is difficult to cure, is the aging of the population. Young people leave, they get jobs where it is safer, where the salary is higher. We are not having enough children. We are slowly becoming a country of old people. That is why this is a more difficult disease to solve. For that, we need that strong, united pro-Bosnian bloc and the diaspora.

Half of our strength, our vitality, our young and capable people have left BiH. They are scattered all over the world. That is enormous strength. Our people in the diaspora can change the direction of the country. We have neither oil nor diamonds, but we have people. We had fighters who defended the country.

Now we have businessmen, people who have matured in difficult circumstances and who need our support. We need infrastructure, better road connections. If we combine all that strength, we can do it - Izetbegović concluded.



The forum was also addressed by the President of the SDA Canton Committee ZDK Nermin Mandra, the President of the SDA Municipal Board Maglaj Enes Sejmenović, the Prime Minister of ZDK Nezir Pivić, and the Mayor of Maglaj Municipality Maid Suljaković.

Before the forum, Izetbegović met with members of the Executive Board of the SDA Municipal Board Maglaj, and laid flowers and recited Fatiha at the Central Memorial to the Martyrs and Fallen Soldiers.