Organized by the City of Tuzla, the Tuzla Citizens’ Forum and the Srebrenica-Potocari Memorial Center, a rally in support of Ukraine and peace in Europe and Bosnia and Herzegovina was held on Freedom Square in Tuzla, in front of several thousand citizens.
In his address, Tuzla Mayor Jasmin Imamovic said that the United States and Europe have never been more united and that in such a constellation of forces, Vladimir Putin’s puppets, as he called them, will be stopped in BiH.
“Ukraine is not alone today. Tuzla is not alone today either. We have gathered here and citizens in more than a hundred European cities have gathered to say ‘stop aggression against Ukraine’, to say ‘yes, peace’. We are hurt by the suffering of the people in Ukraine, the bombing of Freedom Square in Kharkov, and that is why we condemn the aggression against Ukraine from Freedom Square in Tuzla. Images of horror from Ukraine will be memories of our sufferings from the past will be and will be in us fear of the future. Many fear the future, that Putin could open another front in BiH with the help of his already declared puppets and separatists. There is no need to be afraid “, said Jasmin Imamović, the mayor of Tuzla.
The director of the Srebrenica-Potocari Memorial Center, Emir Suljagic, warned that in the area of Republika Srpska entity hold rallies in support of Putin’s aggression.
“History has placed a disproportionately heavy burden on the shoulders of one nation. In Ukraine, the fate of the world is literally being decided. It decides what kind of world we will live in. Will we live in a world where the rules of the international order are respected or where big countries like wolves can eat small countries in their environment whenever they want. Peace in BiH is being defended in Ukraine. The most important fighter for democracy today is the Ukrainian soldier. The same group of people who invaded Ukraine have their friends and allies in our country and, yes, their friends and allies are just waiting for an opportunity. By leaving, you also sent a message to them, “Suljagic said.
The President of the Tuzla Citizens’ Forum, Vehid Sehic, pointed out that there will always be more citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina who will be on the side of the civilized world than those who support regimes like Putin’s in Russia.
“In these difficult moments, no one has the right to remain silent for the citizens of Ukraine, we must raise our voice against the war and the violent destruction of life. We must raise our voice for peace, life and freedom. We must send such messages to awaken hope, but also hope to the citizens of Ukraine who defend it because they have the right to freedom. We must be clear that we will never accept a war to solve the problem. “The Russian aggression did that, and we who survived the war must clearly say that this war conflict is over,” said Sehic.
Vesna Terselic, from the Center for Dealing with the Past in Zagreb, pointed out that the European Union should change its policy towards Ukraine in order to stop Putin’s attack:
“The European Union needs a different integration policy. Perhaps most important here in Tuzla. The most important thing is to take steps towards peace “.
The charge d’affaires of the Embassy of Ukraine in Sarajevo, Serhii Miniailo, thanked the citizens of Tuzla and the whole of Bosnia and Herzegovina: “I thank the City of Tuzla and the population and citizens of BiH who gathered today in this act of support for Ukraine and solidarity. An act of solidarity, not only for Ukraine but for the values of freedom, independence and dignity that are important to all people. ”
The rally in support of Ukraine and peace in Europe and BiH on Freedom Square in Tuzla ended with dignity, and several thousand citizens sent a unique message to the modern world to stop the war in Ukraine.
