On the occasion of March 1 - the Independence Day of Bosnia and Herzegovina - the University of Sarajevo, the Institute of History and the Institute for the Research of Crimes against Humanity and International Law organized a scientific panel "Domestic and international reactions to the independence of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina" which was held today in the Rectorate of the University of Sarajevo.
This festive and scientific meeting was opened by the rector of the University of Sarajevo, Prof. Ph.D. Rifat Škrijelj, emphasizing that Bosnia and Herzegovina is a stable, independent and free country, and that March 1, 1992 is a day of pride and determination, the day when Bosnians and Herzegovinans of all nationalities decided in a referendum for a sovereign, independent, independent and whole Bosnia and Herzegovina, a state of equal nations and citizens.
"Today, 30 years later, it turned out that the path to independence was the only correct solution in the moments of the dissolution of Yugoslavia. Despite brutal aggression and imposed war, we managed to preserve the multi-ethnic code of this country. That's why we should be proud of the achievements of our Bosnia and Herzegovina, whose inner strength in its thousand-year tradition has always managed to overcome all adversities. I think it is very important that from a scientific point of view we constantly look at this important event, which will be remembered in history as the day when Bosnia and Herzegovina restored its sovereignty and became an independent state", emphasized Rector Škrijelj.
The Director of the Institute for Research of Crimes Against Humanity and International Law, UNSA, Prof. Ph.D. Rasim Muratović, emphasizing that November 25 - BiH Statehood Day and March 1 - BiH Independence Day are the two most significant dates in the modern history of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
"March 1, 1992 was preceded by the turbulent times of the disintegration of Yugoslavia. Bosnia and Herzegovina, that is, its state and political leadership in the talks held in 1990 and 1991, proposed the democratization of Yugoslavia, proposed an alliance of independent states. However, everything that took place in Greater Serbia and Greater Croatia projects, so that Bosnia and Herzegovina had no choice but to go on the path of independence," reminded director Muratović. The referendum was organized on February 29 and March 1, 1992. "It is interesting to say that the first country to recognize Bosnia and Herzegovina was Bulgaria. It did so even before the referendum was held on January 30, 1992. Also, before the referendum, Bosnia and Herzegovina was recognized by Turkey and Slovakia. After referendum and the announcement of the results, the first country to recognize Bosnia and Herzegovina was Spain, followed by Libya and Iran. All EU countries, including Great Britain and the USA, on April 6, 7 and 8 recognized Bosnia and Herzegovina as an independent and independent state," said director Muratović. As he said, today, out of 192 members of the United Nations, Bosnia and Herzegovina is recognized by 182 countries.
Director of the Institute of History of the University of Sarajevo, dr. Sedad Bešlija said that the goal of this event, like every year, is to remind ourselves of one of the most important, if not the most important, date in the recent history of Bosnia and Herzegovina. "And to once again remind the scientific, professional and general public of the value of the independence of the state and the value of the existence of BiH institutions. Let us once again remind the public that values such as the independence and freedom of a community are not given as a gift, but it is necessary that everyone together, as society, we work every day to strengthen state institutions," explained Dr. Beshlia.
As he stated, 30 years after the referendum, although it has made some progress, Bosnia and Herzegovina still faces fundamental issues such as the fundamental recognition of the independence of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the loyalty of all its citizens to BiH. to state institutions. "Bosnia and Herzegovina will continue, in the coming years, to have this type of problem. So, the fundamental problem of how it will continue to be organized both within itself and in international law," added Dr. Beshlia.
On the occasion of marking the 30th anniversary of the independence of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the presenters presented their research results, placing special emphasis on the political circumstances in the world and in Bosnia and Herzegovina that led to the declaration of independence. What was the position of official US policy, did the EU members have a unified position on the issue of the breakup of Yugoslavia, and how did domestic political factors approach the issue of independence, were the topics of today's panel. This was an opportunity to discuss, on the basis of scientifically relevant data, the historical context of one of the most significant events in the overall past of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Through five reports, the focus is on domestic and international reactions to the independence of Bosnia and Herzegovina:
dr. Jasmin Medić (Institute of History, University of Sarajevo) - "Attitude of members of the European Community towards the issue of independence of Bosnia and Herzegovina";
Prof. Ph.D. Hamza Karčić (Faculty of Political Sciences, University of Sarajevo) - "American reactions to the independence of Bosnia and Herzegovina";
dr. Zilha Mastalić-Košuta (Institute for the Research of Crimes Against Humanity and International Law, University of Sarajevo) - "The role of the Croatian political body in the referendum for the independence of Bosnia and Herzegovina";
dr. Muamer Džananović (Institute for Research of Crimes Against Humanity and International Law, University of Sarajevo) - "Activities of the Serbian Democratic Party (SDS) on the announced independence of Bosnia and Herzegovina";
dr. Hikmet Karčić (Institute for the Islamic Tradition of Bosniaks) – "Barricades: the violent reaction of the Serbian Democratic Party (SDS) to the declaration of independence of Bosnia and Herzegovina".
The scientific panel concluded with the following message:
Regardless of the different treatment of representatives of citizens and peoples during the dissolution of the SFRY and the process of gaining independence of BiH, regardless of all long-standing and still current differences and attitudes towards the state of Bosnia and Herzegovina, it is very important that all citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina have a Bosnian passport today, that they are perceived as Bosnians outside of Bosnia and Herzegovina, that they have an independent and independent home - and it is up to each individual how and whether they will build or dismantle their house.
In the extremely turbulent times in which we are right now, when a new world order is probably taking shape, when many other peoples, communities, individuals are wandering around the world without basic identification documents and without the protection of their own state because many of them do not even have a state, peoples in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Bosnian nation, has the privilege of having its own independent state.
That is why it is important to continue to develop and enrich the content of the acquired state independence and sovereignty - in political, diplomatic, economic, educational, cultural and every other segment, for the benefit of all the inhabitants of Bosnia and Herzegovina and generations to come.
