Komšić addressed the Royal College of Defence Studies in London

LONDON, (Patria) - As part of his working visit to the United Kingdom, the Chairman of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Željko Komšić, addressed the Royal College of Defence Studies today.

Below is the text of President Komšić's speech:

Distinguished soldiers, officers, government officials, ladies and gentlemen,

It is a special honor for me to address you today as the Chairman of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina and as a former soldier of the Army of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina. There is almost no greater honor in public service than to serve one's homeland as a soldier, and when one has noble and civilizational intentions, that honor is even greater. Indeed, it is a beautiful feeling to know that you have fought for justice, freedom, and peace, against injustice, tyranny, and terror. When you fight for such noble goals, no one can take that feeling away from you.

It is especially my pleasure to say this here before you who proudly serve our friendly country, the United Kingdom, a member of the NATO alliance, the same alliance of countries interested in preserving peace and stability in the world, and which we in Bosnia and Herzegovina, despite numerous resistances, strive for. Among those present are also those of you who come from other countries to deepen your knowledge at this elite institution. I believe that your goals are the same as ours, namely collective security, the rule of law, democracy, and freedom.

I want to emphasize on this occasion that the friendship between the peoples and citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Great Britain does not date from yesterday. It was built long ago through joint struggle and commitment to what are true civilizational and democratic values, through the struggle of civilization and anti-civilization, through the glorious struggle and sacrifices made by our citizens in the fight against fascism in World War II.
Bosnia and Herzegovina and its citizens do not forget their friends easily, especially since, although we have harmed no one, it has had many enemies throughout its history.

All of us in Bosnia and Herzegovina know very well how much the friendly support of the United Kingdom meant in the moments of struggle for statehood and the fight against global fascism. Brigadier General Fitzroy Maclean did not just fall from the sky in the small Bosnian-Herzegovinian town of Drvar in September 1943, but at Churchill's request, he parachuted into Tito's headquarters near Drvar, to help, on behalf of your country, the heroic struggle of our partisans who fought for our country and against our common enemy at the time. Together, they planned coordinated actions of the partisan army and allied aviation to prevent the enemy from regrouping in Central and Western Europe, which would have further prolonged the war.

Therefore, it is no wonder that it was precisely Britain that first recognized who, in our region, fought for the same goals and against the same enemy without any calculations. For this reason, but not only for this reason, the friendship between our countries is a lasting category. We were on the same, or rather, the right side of history, and I am convinced we will be in the future.

Bosnia and Herzegovina wants to be part of a community of states and security systems that desire peace in the world. I have already said this, but I repeat it due to its importance. We are grateful to the United Kingdom for the efforts made after the signing of the Dayton Peace Agreement. These efforts to preserve peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina have not been without results. Thanks to the British soldiers who came on a peacekeeping mission to BiH, our country is stable today. However, we want it to be even more stable. Therefore, we highly appreciate the support that the United Kingdom provides to Bosnia and Herzegovina on its path to NATO integration.

On this path, no matter how hard they try or what efforts they make, we will not be hindered by troublemakers who, for their own reasons that are not in the interest of peace, sow disorder around the world, even in Britain. I will not mention their names, because both we in Bosnia and Herzegovina and in Great Britain know very well who they are. We are on the eve of the 70th anniversary of the founding of the NATO pact, which has brought lasting peace, security, and prosperity to a large part of Europe. It is time to complete and round off this process by incorporating the remaining countries that have publicly declared themselves for it, and among them is Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Therefore, it is necessary in the coming period to further strengthen bilateral ties between our countries. The foundation for this, as I said, was laid long ago. In the changed geopolitical circumstances in the world, cooperation between our countries, both political, economic, and military, is simultaneously important, necessary, and mutually beneficial. For my part, I will do everything to strengthen and further expand this cooperation at each of the mentioned levels. In this context, I take this opportunity to express my satisfaction with the engagement of the Ambassador of the United Kingdom to Bosnia and Herzegovina, His Excellency Matthew Field, who is a true friend of the state of Bosnia and Herzegovina and all its citizens.

Finally, dear participants, I want to tell you the following; Only the names of heroes are recorded in history, whether they are soldiers, officers, diplomats, or statesmen. I wish you to be honored for your merits for peace, because peace is the most sacred thing that we should preserve today in the name of the future. It is the victory we should strive for with dedication.