The President of the Party of Democratic Action (SDA), Bakir Izetbegović, today met with the UK Ambassador to Bosnia and Herzegovina, Julian Reilly.
“We discussed a range of political and economic topics, with particular focus on the current lobbying and propaganda campaign conducted by the Alliance of Independent Social Democrats (SNSD)-led regime headed by Milorad Dodik,” Izetbegović said in a statement.
Izetbegović emphasized that, in the current geopolitical circumstances, attempts to create a false narrative about the “endangerment of Christians by Muslims” and alleged anti-Semitism in Bosnia and Herzegovina are extremely dangerous.
“The spreading of historical falsehoods, the reversal of the roles of victims and aggressors, and open Islamophobia directed against Bosniaks aim to undermine the foundations of the state of Bosnia and Herzegovina and represent a continuation of overt secessionist policies. Such narratives must be countered with facts and intensified diplomatic engagement,” he said.
In that context, Izetbegović asked the British Ambassador, in line with the long-standing friendly relations between the two countries, to ensure the United Kingdom’s continued support for Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The interlocutors jointly assessed that manipulating Islamophobia for political purposes, as well as hate speech, is unacceptable.
Economic issues were also discussed, with particular emphasis on attracting British investment in the fields of mining, energy, and road construction. It was underlined that resolving the issue of state property is a precondition for increasing the volume of investment.
Part of the discussion was also devoted to the current political situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The interlocutors agreed that one of the key priorities is ensuring the integrity of the electoral process through the introduction of new technologies.
