RECEPTION IN THE BIH PRESIDENCY - Komšić: Instead of divisions, let us compete for peace and prosperity

SARAJEVO, (Patria) - A reception has begun at the Presidency of BiH building on the occasion of Independence Day of Bosnia and Herzegovina. 

The reception, organised by the Chair of the Presidency Željko Komšić and member of the BiH Presidency Šefik Džaferović, is attended by a large number of representatives from the socio-political life of BiH, as well as numerous representatives of the diplomatic corps in our country. 

Again, political representatives of the RS entity are not attending the reception.

After the national anthem was played, Chair Komšić addressed those present, and we publish his speech in full:  

"Your Excellencies, Eminences, Ladies and Gentlemen, Dear Guests! 

Tonight, we proudly remember March 1st as the day of gaining independence of the state of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the day when the citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina, using the democratic mechanism of a referendum, expressed their civic will for a sovereign and independent state of Bosnia and Herzegovina, thereby creating the preconditions for its international recognition. 

In the period that followed, Bosnia and Herzegovina showed and, for the umpteenth time in its history, proved its indestructibility. Those who love it, its citizens, guided by love for their homeland, gave their all to preserve its international legal subjectivity and succeeded. No one could kill the hope or faith of Bosnians and Herzegovinians in what they stood for, and we stood for the same thing we stand for today, for a state of equal citizens, a state in which there was, is, and always will be room for everyone.

Such a state was and is desired by the majority of citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Today, however, we must in a mature manner oppose all attempts at divisions that are being imposed, be they political, party, or ideological. We extend and should extend a hand even to those who did not vote for the independence of the state of Bosnia and Herzegovina or who still oppose independence and sovereignty. My message to those fellow citizens is sincere, short, and clear. This is your country too. No one wants, will, or can take it away from you. It is ours, common, let us make it better than it is today, if not for ourselves, then at least for the children who come after us. We must not allow our own children to hate their home threshold, and to seek their happiness and life opportunities far from this country. We must leave them hope that this country can be the best place in the world for them.

We can only succeed in this if, as responsible people, we avoid expressing disrespect and misunderstanding towards one another, if we avoid unnecessary fears, circumventing the law, and undermining institutions that are our state institutions and must serve everyone equally. Destroying trust, respect, and unfortunately institutions as well, is easy, but it represents an act of folly, while folly always brings tragic consequences. 

Even after everything, I still somewhat hope that everything we could witness in recent days, which is not aimed at building a better society but at dismantling it, is still just a bad act, a poor choice of methods in political activity, because I believe that a belligerent person in conditions of peace primarily attacks himself. Therefore, instead of destruction and disputes, let striving for peace and prosperity be the main challenge and what we compete in.

Before us as citizens, society, and state, lies the fulfillment of numerous conditions in order to approach a safer living environment within broader international associations, which is set out in our foreign policy priorities. However, we should know that no one outside this common country of ours has a greater interest and benefit from it than we who share the same region here. We will not find greater friends in the world if we do not find them among ourselves, but I believe we can. Finally, without running away or being ashamed of our hot Balkan blood and temperament, we still just want to be an ordinary normal, peaceful, and safe country. 

I congratulate all citizens on March 1st, Independence Day of the state of Bosnia and Herzegovina," said the Chair of the BiH Presidency.