(VIDEO) Hadžidedić for NAP: The will of the nation is expressed in the Constitution, realpolitik requires the revival of Bosnianhood and the Republic of Bosnia!

Interviewed by Rasim Belko

The will of the nation is expressed through the Constitution, not through listing ethnic identities and determining which group has a statistical majority, says Professor Zlatko Hadžidedić in an interview with Patria.

In the interview for Patria, Professor Hadžidedić speaks about Bosnianhood and Bosniakhood. Do they exclude each other, is the way out of everything a Bosnian nation, what are the goals of various groups and individuals who have recently been pitting Bosnianhood against Bosniakhood.

“A nation is a collective. There are interpretations that simply because Bosnia and Herzegovina is internationally recognized, it is a nation. However, a nation is a collective that believes it possesses sovereignty to form a state. A nation is formed by all citizens of a particular state, or when that state is being created, by those who identify with the idea of creating their own state. Science views it that way; the interpretation that a nation equals a state is too free. We are recognized as a state, and let's say we are also recognized as a nation. However, there is a fundamental problem: we must recognize ourselves as Bosnians, as a Bosnian nation, in order to function in the world of realpolitik as a nation,” says Professor Hadžidedić.

He explains that as long as there is a perception that there are three ethnic groups in BiH that rightfully call themselves nations, we cannot create a Bosnian nation.

“We must return sovereignty to Bosnia and Herzegovina; moreover, we must once again ensure it is called Bosnia, because at one point it was deliberately done to call it Bosnia and Herzegovina. As long as we have Bosnians and Herzegovinians, we will have dualism. We must have one nation, one sovereignty. We must be a Bosnian nation, which will have a national Bosnian state. Ethno-religious groups belong to a completely different sphere, the sphere of private identity. In the public space, our identity is Bosnian; in private, it can be Bosniak, Serbian, or Croatian. One does not exclude the other,” emphasizes Professor Hadžidedić.

Professor Hadžidedić also discusses why the views of Professor Suad Kurtćehajić are problematic, and why the gathering announced in Sarajevo for November 25, organized by people around former reis-ul-ulema Mustafa Cerić, is dangerous.

We also talked about the activities of the Academy of Sciences and Arts of Bosnia and Herzegovina when decisive battles for its survival are being waged.