Naprijed cancels on Konaković: Good idea, but there is no working material, we will not come to the gathering!

(Patria) - We considered supporting the idea of gathering Bosniaks from the region because, as experienced long-time politicians, we know very well that dialogue has no alternative, but we did not accept the invitation of the president of the People and Justice party for the gathering that will be held tomorrow in Sarajevo, the Naprijed party announced.

For several reasons: We expected until today that, in addition to the invitation and the list of participants' names, they would also provide working material, so that we could possibly decide to attend the gathering. Unfortunately, nothing came of it, which only further confirms the superficiality of this move.

Initially, a good idea was perceived in the public as a political regrouping for elections, precisely because of poor preparation! We in NAPRIJED do not want to be part of any of the evident groupings, because such a political perception has led BiH and Bosniaks into this position. Discussing an extremely important political issue - the national policy of Bosniaks - identity issues, language, religion, tradition, culture, education, history... requires thorough preparation, organization, and extensive working material with guidelines that need to be discussed and important conclusions and decisions made for the future of Bosniaks in the region.

We therefore recall the Bosniak Assembly of 1993, which was organized on the initiative of the VKBI, and the participants were politicians, representatives of public, cultural and religious life of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Because of this, we insist that at the gathering where Bosniaks and national policy are to be discussed, there must not be only politicians, and those selected indiscriminately and by who knows what criteria. For defining national policy, everyone must be active, from academics to professors, religious leaders and all those who deal with Bosniak identity. The timing of convening this gathering is also wrong, before the Easter gathering of Serbs, which would give them political legitimacy, and which will obviously be reduced to empty discussions.

Bosniaks have never seen any good from dilettantism and empty stories, especially not when they are supported by Vučić, as is the case with this gathering, which suits him perfectly for the realization of the "Serbian world" project. Everything needs to be well prepared, organized, and everyone who can contribute should be invited, because the issue of Bosniak national policy is not exclusively within the competence of politicians, and then such gatherings should be convened. I fear that a haphazard gathering, mutual accusations, egos, vanities and unfortunately a race to be the first among Bosniaks can only have additional negative consequences for the already disunited Bosniaks, both in BiH and in the region. We want to be different, and sincerely deal with these issues at a highly professional and intellectual level, the statement said.