Busts of BiH friends, Ashdown, Mock, and Mazowiecki, unveiled

SARAJEVO, (Patria) - A ceremony was held on the promenade near Kemal Monteno Park (across from the Ciglane settlement) to unveil the busts of Paddy Ashdown, Alois Mock, and Tadeusz Mazowiecki.

The busts bear quotes from the three greats: "Bosnia is under my skin. I cannot imagine what my life would be like without it" (Paddy Ashdown); "The very stability of the international order and the principles of civilization are at stake because of the problems in Bosnia" (Tadeusz Mazowiecki); "For the first time, a UN member state is being erased from the map by aggression. Everything must be done to ensure the survival of BiH" (Alois Mock).

At today's bust unveiling ceremony, it was emphasized that these three men were friends of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Ejup Ganić, a member of the wartime Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, said that these busts serve as a reminder that in the most difficult times for our country, we had people by our side who helped it survive.

Academic Prof. Dr. Mirko Pejanović, a member of the wartime Presidency of BiH, was also among those who made crucial decisions at a decisive moment for Bosnia and Herzegovina.

"This is an act of dignity to show our appreciation and to repay the people whose busts we are placing in this park today for all that they, as individuals and as holders of public office in their countries at the time, did for the state of Bosnia and Herzegovina and its citizens," Pejanović emphasized.

Miro Lazović, President of the Assembly of RBiH, who also served as a member of the wartime Presidency of RBiH in that capacity, and is currently the Deputy Chairman of the Centar Municipal Council, said he was honored to attend the unveiling of the busts of three great men who made significant contributions to the preservation and building of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

"I thank Mayor Ajnadžić for the initiative supported by the Municipal Council. Of the three, I knew Paddy Ashdown best, a man who truly loved Bosnia. I am sure that if he were still alive, Bosnia and Herzegovina would have become a full member of the European Union and NATO long ago. These busts should teach new generations that the values advocated by these three great men should be the motto of our lives," Lazović conveyed.

The Ambassador of Poland, His Excellency Jaroslaw Lindenberg, also addressed the attendees.

"I want to thank the Centar Municipality for the initiative to erect a bust in memory of Tadeusz Mazowiecki. I personally knew Mazowiecki, so today is a particularly important day for me. He was an excellent intellectual, politician, democratic activist, the first non-communist Prime Minister of Poland. In August 1992, the United Nations appointed him to monitor developments in your country and ensure that human rights were not violated. However, less than three years later, after the fall of the protected zone of Srebrenica, Mazowiecki submitted his irrevocable resignation from the position to which he was appointed as a sign of protest against the passivity of the major powers of the international community regarding the war crimes and genocide committed during the war in this country," said Ambassador Lindenberg.

The Ambassador of Austria to BiH, Ulrike Hartmann, recalled Alois Mock's genuine commitment to the international recognition of Bosnia and Herzegovina as an independent and sovereign state.

"One of the personalities in whose honor we are unveiling busts today is the former Austrian Chancellor and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Alois Mock. All three live in the collective memory of many in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Based on the universal values they represented, they all enjoy lasting respect and esteem. Austria has always been, and continues to be, a true friend of Bosnia and Herzegovina. I thank you for erecting a bust in honor of Alois Mock as an expression of respect for him personally, and for Austria, the country he represented," Ambassador Hartmann conveyed.

Paddy Ashdown is considered one of the most active international officials who worked in our country, serving as High Representative from 2002 to 2006. A proven friend of Bosnia and Herzegovina, he deserved this recognition. Paddy Ashdown's family sent a letter, which was read by Bojan Zec Filipović. In the letter, the family stated, among other things, that they were extremely honored by the tribute paid by the people of Bosnia and Herzegovina to Paddy Ashdown, a man who loved this country and the people who live in it.

Mayor Ajnadžić emphasized the importance of preserving the memory of the sincere friends of the state of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The busts were created by academic sculptor Enes Sivac.