The life of Alija Izetbegović was marked by the struggle for freedom and the struggle for a democratic and integrated Bosnia and Herzegovina. He persevered with dignity in that struggle with the complete conviction that freedom and truth are invincible and that they are worth fighting for, regardless of the personal cost, it was pointed out at the Academy organized in Sarajevo on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the death of the first president of the Presidency of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina Alija Izetbegović.
The organizers of the traditional Academy, held at the National Theatre, are the Public Institution “Alija Izetbegović” Museum and the “Alija Izetbegović” Foundation.
The Academy, under the patronage of Denis Bećirović, a member of the BiH Presidency, has traditionally gathered numerous dignitaries from the social, cultural, political and academic life of BiH. In addition to numerous dignitaries, the President of the Democratic Action Party (SDA) Bakir Izetbegović, other family members and numerous guests attended the program at the National Theater. The program began with the singing of the national anthem and the memory of all those who gave their lives in the defense of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Academician Mirko Pejanović, wartime member of the RBiH Presidency, in his speech recalled, as he said, one of Izetbegović’s assessments of the role of the BiH Presidency in the war, and quoted: “Bosnia and Herzegovina suffered in this war like never before. No stone was left unturned. But she was lucky. It was managed in war by people who were equally patriots of their country, boundlessly ready to sacrifice themselves for its survival and development in peace”.
Pejanović pointed out that with this Alija Izetbegović confirmed the importance of the unity of the wartime Presidency of RBiH in leading the fight for the integrity and sovereignty of BiH.
“On everything that Alija Izetbegović contributed to the survival of the state of Bosnia and Herzegovina, historical science and the social community should especially value it. For many influential figures from the international community, Alija Izetbegović played a historic role in defending the sovereignty and integrity of the state of Bosnia and Herzegovina. At the same time, the statesmanship role of Alija Izetbegović should be viewed in a historical context with the historical role of the RBiH Presidency, which he presided over and managed in the most difficult conditions for the survival of the state of BiH”, Pejanović concluded.
The former member of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Šefik Džaferović, addressed those present, who said that it was a great honor for him to have had the opportunity to know and learn from Alija Izetbegović.
“Alija Izetbegović was a statesman in the best sense of the word. Thinker, philosopher, writer, humanist, lawyer. But Alija was, first of all, or in addition to all that, a good man. I knew him personally and was convinced of it. The life of Alija Izetbegović was marked by the struggle for freedom and the struggle for a democratic and integrated Bosnia and Herzegovina. He fought for freedom and paid a high price, which included almost nine years in prison, but he did not give up. “He persevered with dignity in that fight with complete conviction that freedom and truth are invincible and that they are worth fighting for, no matter what the personal price was,” Džaferović said.
Džaferović further stated that even in the conditions of cruel and brutal aggression against Bosnia and Herzegovina, Alija Izetbegović remained consistent with the principles of civilization and his philosophy of life based on Islam and the holy Qur’an.
“That’s why they went to the territory controlled by the only legal government, i.e. The Government of the RBiH respected the human rights of all citizens, preserved cultural-historical and religious monuments of all peoples and confessions. On the other hand, in the territory controlled by the aggressor armies, everything that was Bosniak was suppressed and destroyed, ethnic cleansing, mass crimes and genocide were the methods of aggression in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Despite this, a rematch was prevented, the RBiH Army systematically prevented crimes and punished individuals in its ranks. This kind of civilized and civilizational relationship was set by the late President Izetbegović, and it came from the depth of his being, worldview and view of the order of things and life. He once said that our moral victories are greater than our military defeats. And it’s right there. The legal government of the RBiH, led by and whose symbol was Alija Izetbegović, emerged from the war as a moral winner admired by the whole world. Among other things, this is why Alija Izetbegović is respected both in the West and in the East,” concluded Džaferović, agencija Anadolija reports.
