Over the weekend, Bosnians and Herzegovinians from Hertfordshire, London, Birmingham, Coventry and Derby gathered at Hertswood Academy in Borehamwood (a suburb of London) to mark in a dignified manner the Statehood Day of Bosnia and Herzegovina and thirty years since the arrival of the first concentration camp prisoners in the UK.
The date, which symbolizes many things, and above all the equality of all citizens of BiH, was marked in large numbers. On behalf of the event’s host, the attendees were addressed by Emina Elkazović, a dedicated activist of the BH Hertfordshire Association, who also moderated the program, and Zaim Pašić, president of the BH UK Network.
With congratulations on the Statehood Day, Pašić reminded that one of the most important dates for Bosnia and Herzegovina is precisely November 25. “It was not easy to preserve our statehood, but thanks to BH citizens all over the world as well as here in Great Britain, whom I want to thank in this way, we managed to preserve our love for our homeland, and the youth who are here with us today are a guarantee that it will remain so in the future.”
After the anthems were sung, HE Vanja Filipović, Ambassador of BiH to the United Kingdom, addressed the audience: “I have become convinced that, despite the fact that you are now residents of the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland, you still love and care for your homeland and that no one will ever push it out of your hearts and souls. You have confirmed, shown and proven this countless times with your individual and joint actions, socializing in a native way in this hospitable country that has given you the opportunity for a peaceful and safe life and the right to cherish your ethnic and cultural heritage, customs, folklore, maintaining the freshness of your native language and that of your children and grandchildren, and establishing strong cultural, religious and economic relations with your native homeland of Bosnia and Herzegovina. 
And this joint celebration and evocation of the significance of ZAVNOBIH Day, November 25, confirms this. I am proud of your commitment, infinitely grateful to the patriotic organizations in Great Britain for marking this historic date for years,” said Ambassador Filipović. 
The event was also attended by the mayor of Hertsmere Cll. John Graham with his wife Barbara who also sent congratulations on the birthday of our homeland. As part of the program, there was also a performance by the folklore group “Mladost Bosne” from Birmingham, which once again delighted everyone present, under the watchful eye of choreographer Fahira Hasedžić.
30 YEARS SINCE THE FIRST CAMPS ARRIVALED IN THE UK
It has been 30 years since the first concentration camp inmates from Bosnia and Herzegovina arrived in the UK. The first group of concentration camp inmates from Prijedor and Kozarac arrived in the UK in 1992. They are a group of people who, despite witnessing the horrific events of three decades ago, have managed to rebuild their lives with addresses across the UK. The programme was accompanied by a lot of sincere emotion.
Kemal Pervanić, Nijaz Mujkanović and Fikret Alić, better known as the man on the wire, recounted the abuse they experienced during their time in the Serbian death camps. Kemal recognized his teacher in the camp. Fikret was not abused for only 6 days during his 56-day stay in the Keraterm camp. Nijaz was one of the last camp inmates to leave “Omarska” on August 21, 1992, and he wrote about the atrocities he experienced in the camps in the book Crime with Premeditation.
Semira Jakupović recited her poem “Camper”, which she dedicated to all those who were not lucky enough to survive the Serbian death camps, as well as to those who survived, including many members of Mrs. Jakupović’s family. The performance by students from the Hertfordshire Bosnian supplementary school was also very emotional. Adin Balić and Edin Jakupović told what their grandfathers, Ismet Balić and Džemal Paratušić, respectively, experienced in the Serbian camps.
After that, Andrijana Paratušić read the poem For You, dedicated to all those who did not have the opportunity to tell their story.
On this occasion, an exhibition of works by Bosnian and Herzegovinian artist Emira Ramić, who has been living and working in Great Britain for many years, was organized.
A great contribution to the event was made by the hardworking activists of the Hertfordshire BiH Association. It is especially important to highlight the dedication of the second generation of BiH citizens from Hertfordshire and the surrounding area who made an effort to professionally and warmly present their love for their homeland of BiH.
We congratulate all citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina on the Statehood Day of our one and only homeland.
BH UK Network
