SDP BiH condemns attack on Catholic family, but also Naša stranka's behavior

SARAJEVO, (Patria) - Sarajevo SDP, including every one of our members, and especially our elected officials, never, in any way, relativize or justify chauvinistic outbursts and attacks on our fellow citizens. On the contrary, this is in fundamental opposition to the core ideals and postulates on which SDP is based, it was announced today from the Sarajevo Cantonal Committee of SDP Sarajevo. 

"Sarajevo is and must be a city wide enough for every resident, regardless of their religious or ethnic affiliation. Any attack on such a Sarajevo and on any of our fellow citizens based on their religious or ethnic identity is considered an attack on SDP and on each of us personally. We assure our fellow citizens, the victims of this attack, that none of us, in any way, are relativizing this attack. We assure you that no statement from our officials was intended to justify or diminish the horror of the attack on your home, and we deeply apologize if you interpreted our messages that way.

We send a clear message to all citizens: Sarajevo and its multi-ethnicity are our sacred value, our red line that must not be crossed. We thank the members of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of KS for their swift reaction and for finding the perpetrator, a mentally ill person. Your quick reaction brought peace to everyone," stated SDP.

They had a special message for their "coalition partner, Naša stranka".

"We state that it is inappropriate to use the attack on fellow citizens and spin statements by SDP representatives for obviously propaganda purposes. Citizens should know that these same individuals who are issuing statements have a meeting with the mayor at least once a week, as well as daily contacts, and that if any motive other than propaganda existed, they would surely have acted differently. Their decision to communicate with us through the media in the future saddens us. Reluctantly, but at their insistence, we will accept such a practice. Also, we inform our 'coalition partners' from Naša stranka that they have no worries and that SDP will continue to defend Sarajevo and its citizens from all evil, just as our predecessors in the party have done for generations, both in war and in peace.

We will never do this naively and to the detriment of Sarajevo. We will not gamble with the state for the sake of populism, we will not agree to revisionist theories, we will never sacrifice truth to relativize the past. Also, we will not feign cooperation only when it suits us, nor will we spin your statements and deepen the wounds of fellow citizens for the sake of votes. We will not be unserious.
Sarajevo SDP will continue to work and speak through actions, but also to openly address the unseriousness of anyone who endangers our city through inaction, and tries to compensate for it with PR tricks," stated SDP BiH Sarajevo.