The Ambassador of the US to BiH Patrick Moon visited Stolac today and spoke with representatives of the Islamic Commuity and the Mayor of Stolac Stjepan Bošković.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Ambassador Moon said that he discussed the future of Stolac, multi-ethnic relations and the economic situation in this town.
Moon also said how he will speak will the representatives of the Catholic and Orthodox community, and was shocked that the representatives of the Catholic Church and the Islamic Community in Stolac do not communicate. He was under the impression that leaders of these institutions were devoted to establishing and maintaining excellent relations.
‘’It would be an important step for local leaders to hold a joint meeting, and it is unfathomable to me why that is not happening in Stolac, when it is occurring in the rest BiH’’, said Moon.
‘’I believe that the future of this local community will be better, and that it will be based on democratic principles and the respect of human rights, as in the reforms that will have to be implemented throughout BiH’’, said Moon after the meeting.
He also said how his meeting with the hosts was a reason to encourage interaction between the Bosniak and Croat communities and a greater level of mutual respect.
‘’I believe that the future of the entire local community in Stolac will be based on courageous leadership, especially a leadership focused on the respect of all memers of that community’’, concluded Moon.
He said that he knows that in BiH, Stolac has a reputation for being a divided town, which is the consequence of the war, but he also believes that this town especially has to be a community in which more reforms have to be implemented at the local level, adding that he believes that these reforms will bring a better future for Stolac.
