A historic moment for a community that survived genocide and ethnic cleansing
The Independence Day of our one and only Bosnia and Herzegovina was marked in the Parliament of Great Britain. On March 1, 2022, Bosnia and Herzegovina celebrates 30 years since the citizens decided by almost a two-thirds majority in a referendum that their country should declare independence. Citizens voted by answering one question “Are you in favor of a sovereign and independent BiH, a state of equal citizens, the people of BiH – Muslims, Serbs, Croats and members of other peoples who live in it?”. The results showed that they were.
BH UK Network, in collaboration with its patron, Alicia Kearns MP and H.E. Vanjo Filipovic, organized a reception to mark the Independence Day of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The event was attended by members of the British Parliament, H.E. Vanja Filipović, the Ambassador of BiH to the United Kingdom, Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth, members of the UK Parliament and the Foreign Office, delegates of the BH UK Network and other distinguished guests.
Alicia Kearns MP , member of the Conservative Party of Great Britain and president of the all-party parliamentary group for Bosnia and Herzegovina in the British Parliament, welcomed the patron of BH UK Network. “Bosnia is a country that cannot fail to capture someone’s heart. On the 30th anniversary of its independence, I am proud to have been able to host so many prominent Bosnians in Parliament – including the Ambassador, members of the BH UK Network, Remembering Srebrenica, Chevening Scholars and many others. Since its founding, Great Britain has always stood by its friends in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and I am determined that we will always be steadfast allies,” said Kearns.
In his address, Ambassador Filipović thanked Alicia Kearns and representatives of the BH UK Network for organizing the celebration of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Independence Day in the heart of the United Kingdom’s democracy – the British Parliament. The Ambassador thanked the United Kingdom for its wholehearted assistance and support for peace and stability in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and its Euro-Atlantic path, which continues despite various internal obstructions and external interference in the internal affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The ambassador also addressed the current situation in Ukraine, emphasizing that the shocking scenes of aggression and destruction in this country remind Bosnians and Herzegovina of the bitter experience of the 1990s, and arouse a sense of solidarity, which led Bosnia and Herzegovina to support a resolution condemning the Russian invasion of Ukraine and calling for the immediate withdrawal of Russian forces.
Dr. Anes Cerić , Manager of BH UK Network, also addressed the audience. “It is a historic moment for a community that survived genocide and ethnic cleansing in Europe and found refuge in the UK, to have their home country’s Independence Day celebrated in the British Parliament.” He added: “We are grateful for the solidarity and support we have received, which means a lot to our community.”
The energy and atmosphere felt in the acoustic Jubilee Room in the parliament was extraordinary. To make the atmosphere as pleasant as possible, the members of the KUD “Mladost Bosne” made every effort to welcome the guests in traditional folk costumes. They were at hand at all times and helped organize the event with their presence. They distributed symbolic gifts to the guests. We would like to thank Amina Mekić, Ajša Bolić, Amna Bešić, Emir Bolić, Mirza Gazibegović, Kornelija Besara and Lejla Solaković for the excellent organization of the reception.
Independence Day of BiH, one of the most important dates in history, is not celebrated by all citizens in the country, although decision-makers at the time, politicians, historians, journalists and professors agree on two things, namely that holding a referendum was inevitable and that the independence and autonomy of BiH was a decision solely by its citizens.
2,073,568 voters took part in the referendum, which represented a turnout of 63.6 percent, and almost everyone who went to the referendum voted for independence, and only 0.3 percent or 6,037 people voted against.
The results of the referendum also enabled international recognition of Bosnia and Herzegovina as an independent state. Since then, March 1st has been celebrated as the Independence Day of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
In 1992, also the first year of the war, 76 countries in the world recognized BiH as an independent state, and Bulgaria was the first to do so, even before the referendum on January 31, 1992.
On April 6, 1992, the member states of the European Community, and the United States of America a day later, recognized Bosnia and Herzegovina as an independent and sovereign state.
Bosnia and Herzegovina became a member of the United Nations on May 22, 1992, and its national flag was raised in front of the headquarters in New York. Shortly after the declaration of independence, a four-year aggression against Bosnia and Herzegovina began.
Dear friends, dear Bosnians and Herzegovinans, to all of you who hold Bosnia and Herzegovina in your heart, we congratulate BiH Independence Day.
BH UK Network
