'Great empires have fallen, but not Bosnia and Herzegovina'

LJUBLJANA, (Patria) - Great empires have fallen, but not Bosnia and Herzegovina, said BiH Presidency member Željko Komšić speaking today in Ljubljana at the conference "The Future of Bosnia and Herzegovina: How to accelerate EU and NATO integration?" organized by the International Institute for Middle Eastern and Balkan Studies (IFIMES).

Komšić spoke about the importance of Bosnia and Herzegovina becoming a member of the EU and NATO alliance, as well as the problems the country and its citizens face on this path.

The Presidency member said that the war in BiH has ended, but that war aims have not been abandoned, and called on neighbors to abandon this idea, as well as for the quickest possible admission to the EU and NATO, which would bring stability to the region.

"Bosnia and Herzegovina is stronger than ourselves, as we are," said Komšić.

Bosnia and Herzegovina has outlived many things, said Komšić, noting that there is no need to even mention the power of Austria-Hungary, and all previous projects, which have failed but Bosnia and Herzegovina has survived to this day.

"There are no empires, no criminals... but there is Bosnia and Herzegovina, because it is not a political project, it is a category, it is a society, it is a state that has its justification," said Komšić.

"Bosnia and Herzegovina has survived, no matter how powerless it may seem. The idea of dividing Bosnia and Herzegovina should be abandoned," said BiH Presidency member Željko Komšić.