At the gathering organized by Konaković, it was agreed that participants will continue to meet, but at different locations

(Patria) A meeting of leaders from several political parties was held today, organized by Elmedin Konaković, leader of the People and Justice party, who responded to Konaković's initiative to discuss the position of Bosniaks in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the region.

In a joint statement after the meeting, it is stated that today's working meeting is important "as a step towards improving communication, strengthening ties, and establishing better cooperation among Bosniaks living in the Western Balkans."

"Clearly anticipating that Bosniaks are a European people committed to the membership of all Western Balkan states in the European Union, which is certainly one of the key strategic goals of each individual state as well as of the Bosniaks themselves as a people with a thousand-year tradition of living in this part of Europe. Today's meeting supported the draft Declaration on a Unified Approach, which was adopted at a similar meeting in North Macedonia last year. After working meetings in Skopje and Podgorica, it was particularly important that Bosnia and Herzegovina and the political representatives of Bosniaks from BiH host such a working meeting. We are aware of the necessity to raise cooperation among political representatives of Bosniaks in the region to a higher level. This meeting confirmed that all Bosniaks who see BiH as their homeland or the state of their constituent people can count on Bosnia and Herzegovina, its institutions, and Bosniak political representatives," the joint statement reads.

The statement particularly emphasizes "respect for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of all states from which the political representatives of Bosniaks who attended today's meeting come."

"This is by no means the creation of any parallel institutions or an attempt to diminish the importance of any institution. We are certainly committed to cooperation and good neighborly relations among all states, as well as to cooperation within the already existing institutional framework, but we clearly emphasize that such meetings can indeed foster such cooperation. At the same time, communication, networking, strategic planning, and agreement are based on different foundations, and a people who speak the same language, share a common past, and share a vision of the future need political representatives who will be ready to set aside narrow party interests and cooperate with each other. At this moment, we also see as an important issue the final ratification of the agreement guaranteeing freedom of movement in the Western Balkans, which was agreed upon as part of the Berlin Process. The visa regime between BiH and the Republic of Kosovo particularly affects Bosniaks living in these two countries, and it is necessary to do everything to ensure freedom of movement," the statement highlights.

At the meeting, it was agreed that such gatherings should be organized regularly, at least twice a year.

The statement expressed support for the political representatives of Bosniaks in Croatia and North Macedonia, who are expecting parliamentary elections in these countries in the coming days.