Ceremonial reception held at the Presidency on the occasion of Bosnia and Herzegovina's Independence Day

A ceremonial reception was held at the building of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina on the occasion of March 1, Bosnia and Herzegovina's Independence Day, attended by a large number of figures from the political, cultural, sports and public life of Bosnia and Herzegovina, writes the Bosnian news agency Patria.

On behalf of the hosts, Dragan Čović, Chairman of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, addressed the guests, stating that we are "still turbulent 24 years after Bosnia and Herzegovina's independence".

- I addressed you on behalf of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, but unfortunately we are not all here - emphasized Čović, explaining that he hopes the time will come when everyone in Bosnia and Herzegovina will celebrate this holiday.

Incidentally, Mladen Ivanić, the Serbian member of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, did not attend the reception on March 1, given that the Serbian people do not recognize this holiday.

In his speech, Čović also referred to the submitted application for Bosnia and Herzegovina's membership in the EU and stated that although there are different views on whether we are credible or not, he believes the application was submitted at the right time, and that we will receive candidate status as early as next year.

- It is time to stop dealing with things that divide us and instead create an environment and a country that people will return to, because I said long ago that there is no more beautiful country than Bosnia and Herzegovina. We must make brave and decisive decisions. I do not see why anyone would consider the division of the country as a demand for someone to have information in their own language, if someone wants the right for others not to choose their representatives - emphasized Čović.

He called on members of the international community to point out mistakes but also urged them to support Bosnia and Herzegovina on its Euro-Atlantic path, because Bosnia and Herzegovina is a factor of stability in the region.

Bakir Izetbegović, member of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, told reporters that he is an optimist and believes that coalition partners will create an environment where every citizen of this country will love this country.

He said that his optimism is based on figures showing that 1,000 people are employed monthly in the real sector and that Bosnia and Herzegovina is progressing in all segments.

- True, this is still a small progress, but it is progress, and Bosnia and Herzegovina has the opportunity to make a stronger breakthrough so that ordinary citizens can feel it, because Bosnia and Herzegovina primarily has resources - said Izetbegović.

Ejup Ganić, a member of the wartime Presidency of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina, said that March 1 is one of the more important dates in Bosnia and Herzegovina, which over the years is celebrated by more and more people.

- If we now have data that more than half of this country celebrates this holiday, then we have succeeded, and every year there are more and more who mark it because they have realized that there is no happiness or comfort either in the east or in the west - emphasized Ganić. (acz)