Lendo: Policies of fascism and Nazism in BiH have been militarily defeated twice, but the ideologies have not

(Patria) - Vice President of the Federation of BiH Refik Lendo, in his capacity as Chairman of the Organizing Committee, attended the international scientific conference "Meokrnje – symbol of the fight against fascism," held on the occasion of November 25, the Statehood Day of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

In the introduction to his address to those present at the conference, which this year is held under the theme "The role of the Travnik region in the reintegration of Central Bosnia in the context of Bosnia and Herzegovina's integration into the European Union," Lendo reminded of the fact that the peoples of BiH have made an immeasurable contribution to the fight against fascist and National Socialist ideology.

- At the time of the Nazi occupation of BiH, the political, academic, economic and social elite, as well as the economic, human and resource capacities of the peoples of BiH, were placed in the service of armed and political struggle against the occupier. Alongside the war effort, they also made an immeasurable political contribution so that the work of the First Session of the State Anti-Fascist Council for the National Liberation of BiH, held on November 25, 1943, in Mrkonjić Grad, would adopt a decision confirming its historical borders, unity and indivisibility of its territory, restoring its statehood and granting it the status of the sixth republic within the future Yugoslav state system – said Lendo.

Lendo emphasized that the anti-fascists of Travnik and the wider Travnik region made an immeasurable contribution to the defense against the fascist and Nazi occupier in World War II and the preservation of anti-fascist values, and that they were among the first to join the Army of the Republic of BiH in defending the state from the last aggression.

- Policies based on the ideas of fascism and Nazism in BiH have been militarily defeated twice, but the ideologies have not. We are witnessing that in the political, media and social public in BiH there is a continuous denial and gross minimization of genocide, war crimes, glorification of convicted war criminals, denial of final court verdicts, historical revisionism and degradation of the values of anti-fascism as a civilizational achievement – warned Lendo.

In this context, the Vice President of the Federation of BiH highlighted the importance of building educational system institutions and preparing textbooks as basic teaching and scientific tools, as well as the role of the academic and educational community in building a culture of remembrance based on historical and legal facts.

- It is precisely through the exchange of knowledge, experiences and good practices in the work of international scientific conferences, such as "Meokrnje – symbol of the fight against fascism," that the academic community receives the necessary and needed platform to articulate ideas and send strong messages about the importance of the achievements of the national liberation struggle, defense against aggression and anti-fascism as a civilizational value – stated Lendo.

Anti-fascism as a value, added Lendo, is embedded in the foundations of the EU, and strengthening these values and integrating them into the educational system has no alternative.

- Additionally speaking about the process of BiH's admission to full EU membership, before we align with the acquis and policies, we need to align with the basic values of the EU, which include the achievements of the anti-fascist struggle, but also the rule of law and equality of all citizens before the law and in the electoral process as the basic tool of representative democracy – concluded Lendo.

The scientific conference "Meokrnje – symbol of the fight against fascism" was organized by the Alliance of Anti-Fascists and NOR Fighters of the Central Bosnia Canton and the Organization of Demobilized Fighters of the Defensive-Liberation War 1992 – 1995. Central Bosnia.