Reception held at the BiH Embassy in Berlin on the occasion of BiH Statehood Day

(Patria) - The Embassy of Bosnia and Herzegovina in Berlin organized a reception last night on the occasion of November 25, Statehood Day of Bosnia and Herzegovina. This is the first time this state holiday has been marked by this embassy with an official diplomatic reception.

The reception, held at the embassy building, was attended by five members of the Bundestag, the apostolic nuncio, and numerous other ambassadors, including the heads of missions of all our neighboring countries, representatives of German institutions, including officials from the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Germany and the country's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights Dunja Mijatović, representatives of religious communities, and prominent members of the BiH community in Berlin.

Ambassador Arnaut, in his address, emphasized the significance of ZAVNOBiH, recalling that Bosnian-Herzegovinian patriots in Mrkonjić Grad confirmed the statehood of Bosnia and Herzegovina within its centuries-old borders. Ambassador Arnaut also pointed out that Bosnia and Herzegovina has an obligation to eliminate discrimination that did not exist 80 years ago but was introduced five decades later through provisions that prevent a large number of citizens from running for various positions.

Highlighting the example of his children who attended the reception, as well as his client Ilijaz Pilav, Ambassador Arnaut recalled the anomaly that in Bosnia and Herzegovina there are individuals who do not enjoy the same rights simply because they come from mixed marriages, belong to minorities, or live in the "wrong entity," and emphasized that constitutional and electoral reforms should aim to eliminate such discrimination, not deepen ethnic divisions.

In this regard, Ambassador Arnaut welcomed the fact that in the Federal Republic of Germany, immigrants such as Adis Ahmetović, Jasmina Hostert, and Boris Mijatović can be elected to the Bundestag and that they are judged solely on their merits, and pointed out that these three represent the best of the best that Bosnia and Herzegovina has in the world. Ambassador Arnaut also thanked Bundestag members Josip Juratović and Ulrich Lechte for their friendship and assistance to our country.

Guests also had the opportunity to watch a video message from the member of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Dr. Denis Bećirović, who highlighted the values and historical significance of ZAVNOBiH and wished those present a happy Statehood Day of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The presence of guests at such a high level at the reception, only three months after Ambassador Arnaut took office, testifies to the quality of contacts and close relationships he has established in such a short time, and significantly affirms the position of Bosnia and Herzegovina in the Federal Republic of Germany.