Secretary of the European Rabbinical Conference: Schmidt invited us to Sarajevo

(Patria) - Tonight's 'Investigation of the Week' specifically explored the circumstances and facts related to the recent postponement of the European Rabbinical Conference, which was planned for the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Editor Avdo Avdić spoke exclusively with Gady Gronich, General Secretary of the European Rabbinical Conference, who joined us from Munich:

'The cancellation of the conference happened on Thursday last week by the hotel, via email at 06:30 AM. In the email, they wrote that based on instructions they received from security, i.e., the competent security authorities in the country, they were canceling our room reservations,' Gronich confirms at the beginning, adding:

'The reason they stated was that two days earlier, when the news started appearing in the local media, and that's what complicated things, was the statement by the minister who, on one hand, asked us not to come, meaning he clearly asked us not to come, and at the same time asked the local organizer to withdraw the invitation, and that was the main reason. That marked the beginning of the whole process, and based on what I learned from them, what they wrote to me, they received instructions from the security services of your country to cancel our hotel reservation.

Three weeks earlier, after we agreed to the invitation to come to Sarajevo, I came to Sarajevo and met with representatives of two or three hotels to see what the hotels, rooms, offers, and facilities for our work were like. The hotel that welcomed us then was the 'Swiss Hotel,' which subsequently canceled and decided not to host us. The reason, if I may add, that the hotel stated was that they wanted to protect the safety of their staff, guests, and the facility,' Gronich explains the circumstances that led to the cancellation of the European Rabbinical Conference.

Introducing us to the chronology of the invitation and the start of the organization of the European rabbis' conference in Sarajevo, and who formally extended the invitation, General Secretary Gronich says:

In mid-May, the idea emerged in a conversation I had with Mr. Schmidt. He suggested we come to Sarajevo, and we accepted the idea. For us and our organization, which has existed for 70 years, it was the first time and an opportunity to come to Sarajevo, which we had not visited before. Such gatherings happen twice a year, and we had never stayed in Sarajevo before, so we welcomed Schmidt's idea and invitation. After that, I got in direct contact with Ms. Benjamin (Karić, editor's note), the mayor, and came to Sarajevo and started working with the mayor, representatives of the Jewish Community, and people from Mr. Schmidt's office. Everything was going well until a few days ago when a media campaign against us began with untrue rumors,' the General Secretary of the European Rabbinical Conference, Gronich, specifies and adds:
I must say that no media outlet contacted us, nor did anyone call us to say anything about what was being mentioned in the media.

So, no one, neither from the local government nor from the media. After that, I contacted the editor-in-chief of one of the media outlets that published that we were coming to Sarajevo, why we were coming to Sarajevo, and all the lies that were published then about the reasons for our arrival. So, after that article, I called that media outlet to explain who we are. So, I called them, not the other way around, and clearly stated that we are a religious, not a political organization, what we do, that we do not represent the state of Israel, and that we are not involved in the conflict, emphasizing that we are a religious organization from Europe,' Gronich concludes.

Explaining his stay in Sarajevo and communication with Schmidt, General Secretary Gronich confirms that he was aware that Schmidt did not represent the Government and that he did not have meetings with BiH government officials in those contacts:

Schmidt introduced me to Benjamin, and I came to Sarajevo. I spent two days with her and with representatives of the Jewish Community and members of Schmidt's team, and we started planning and exploring possibilities to organize the conference. I had no contact with the Government, nor did the Government contact me. To this day, no one from the government has even attempted to establish contact with me or the organization. After the pressure from the minister began for us not to come, I contacted Mufti Grabus, whom we have known for ten years and who knows us. I asked him to intervene and explain the situation, but it was already too late,' Gronich notes, and then comments on the statement by Minister Elmedin Konaković:
I had it translated because no one thought to send it to us in English or any other language. I want to say that this is the first step to correct what was done, and if I understood correctly, the minister intended to invite us, but that has not happened yet. I want to say that the Minister of Foreign Affairs has taken the first step, but I still wonder how it is that a government representative, and if I am not mistaken, he is from the same party as the Minister of Foreign Affairs, why no one from the Government, after the statements of the Minister of Social Policy, said 'stop.' Why didn't anyone call us. I expect Minister Delić's resignation, and I think that would be the right thing to do to rectify this situation. I think his resignation is necessary. I think he has caused great, great damage to the country and tried to cause great damage to us, and not only to the Jewish Community of Bosnia and Herzegovina but also to the Jewish Community of Europe. That is not right,' Gronich is categorical.

Answering the question of whether he would come to Sarajevo if invited again to hold the conference at a later date, Gronich replies:

I think that would be a good step. We now expect the Minister of Foreign Affairs to tell us what he said at the press conference, and after that, an official invitation from the government together with the Islamic Community in Bosnia and Herzegovina. I think we would accept that,' Gronich explains and adds:
'During my stay in Sarajevo, I did not have the impression that it was an anti-Semitic city. That was not my experience, but what the Minister of Social Policy said is a completely different language. I hope he will be able to correct that,' Gronich states.

Watch the entire conversation and find out how the General Secretary of the European Rabbinical Conference felt welcomed in Sarajevo during his working visit to prepare for the conference, what role Gros Kabiri plays, and other details related to the entire event.