Despite the negative political discourse and the self-imposed stalemates we see in so many aspects of life in BiH, in fact, there are reasons to be optimistic, wrote the Ambassador of the US to BiH Patrick Moon on his blog.
“Last week, while in Mostar, I sat down with a group of young people representing the Mostar Youth Council so I could congratulate them on an event they organized in March. They brought together young people from both sides of their city – in other words, Bosniaks, Serbs, Croats and probably some “others” as well. The main image from that event, of hundreds of students coming together on one of Mostar’s bridges and joining two halves of Mostar’s city emblem, resonated strongly with me” said Moon.
The American Ambassador said due to the press attention and positive accolades it received, it is an event that resonated strongly among many others in Mostar and BiH, and throughout the region at a time of political division in Mostar and citizen disappointment in their leaders.
“The message – that the “two sides” of Mostar are really on the same side – is an important one which I believe most citizens support. It is a message that supports all those who believe that divisions in BiH are not the choice of its citizens, but the result of political manipulation”, said Moon.
He added that in this context the contrast between Bosnia and Herzegovina’s young people and its elected leaders could not be more stark.
“The contrast between Bosnia and Herzegovina’s young people and its elected and political leaders could not be more stark. When I meet young people in this country, I am energized by their hope, their aspirations, and their desire to work together to build a better Bosnia and Herzegovina. Of late, I have also become increasingly impressed with their courage, capabilities and their commitment to this country”, said Moon.
He stated that, while political leaders of Mostar refuse to sit in the same room to discuss the problems in the city, young people from all communities come together symbolically to talk about unity.
“It is a scenario I see more and more often, from Trebinje to Bihac, from Brcko to Stolac, and everywhere in between. While political elites fight tired, old fights which distract from the real issues and mostly closely protect their own interests and the continuation of the status quo, young people are starting to stand up and say “no,” and I think more citizens will join them”, said Moon.
Ambassador Moon thinks that political leaders should begin to work for change or get out of the way.
“The youth of this country realize that they share the same problems regardless of their ethnicity or religion. The youth of this country know that divisions and differences imposed by narrow-minded politics are artificial and deserve to be removed. The youth of this country will not accept being hostages of past conflicts and disputes”, said Moon, and also that this is the reason why he invests so much of his time and the resources of the Embassy in BiH’s young people.
Moon recalls that he told his friends from the Mostar Youth Council that their idea that the two sides of Mostar are on the same side is very powerful.
“As I told my new friends at the Mostar Youth Council, their idea that the two sides of Mostar are really on the same side is very powerful. I believe their opinions and desires are shared by a very strong, often silent, majority: the ordinary citizens who respect their neighbors, regardless of their religion or ethnicity; the NGO workers who strive to create a strong, capable, independent civil society in BiH; the critics who are courageous enough to call out politicians for their misdeeds, and often suffer the consequences”, concludes Moon.
At the same time, he emphasizes that young people have the capacity to appeal to this group and to bring together those who do not accept things the way they are, but rather ask why things cannot be different and better.
“The people of BiH want leaders who will work together, compromise to find solutions, and help move this country and its people forward. This is a message many of the youth of BiH clearly understand. And it is a message that leaders must begin to understand”, wrote Ambassador Moon on his blog and announced from the Office for Public Relations of the US Embassy to BiH.
