The umbrella organization of Bosnian citizens in the UK, BH UK Network , celebrated its silver jubilee. It was a special day for all Bosnians and Herzegovinians who have been working hard for years to contribute to the preservation of Bosnian-Herzegovinian identity in the UK and our tradition. Many individuals daily invest their time, effort, knowledge, skills in the development of the BiH community in Great Britain and change it for the better with their selfless actions. The ceremony marking the 25th anniversary of the BH UK Network was an occasion to highlight these individuals. The rooms of the Bosnian House were filled with happy and proud faces of individuals, not only Bosnians and Herzegovinians, but also other government representatives, various ethnic minorities and local organizations that contributed to the BH UK Network celebrating its twenty-fifth birthday.
The ceremony began with the singing of the national anthems of Great Britain and Bosnia and Herzegovina. Afterwards, he addressed the audience with introductory words. and the manager of BH UK Network , Dr. Anes Cerić, who hosted the program. It should be noted that among the distinguished guests of the ceremony was the envoy of the Monarchy, Queen Elizabeth II, Deputy Lieutenant in the West Midlands, Mr. Simon Topman MBE DL . He addressed the attendees with the following words:
“I’ve come to convey my best wishes. As for the anniversary, the twenty-five year celebration.” is a great achievement. But, of course, the whole purpose of such an achievement is to go into the future. I am very impressed. I’m talking I eat food that is unusual for me and not for you. And I realized one thing, that you can have two homelands. It is obvious to me from what I was told earlier and from what you told me today that you love your homeland Bosnia and Herzegovina very much. But it’s also clear to me that you also love the United Kingdom. And that you feel loved here. And I assure you it is.This country has long been a safe haven and home for people who have been displaced around the world. People who come here for peace and security they are building a future for themselves. It’s not easy to go somewhere when you don’t know the language. But you prove that your community is still together. I want to encourage you to never forget who you are, what you are, where you are from, what your heritage is, what your religion is, that is what makes you does to YOU. It’s people like you who come to the United Kingdom, that mixture of all the best qualities makes the United Kingdom. So never stop being YOU. Please keep your community together, and your success, that is, your success community, is our success, of the United Kingdom. I would like to note that next June Her Majesty the Queen Elizabeth II celebrates the platinum anniversary of her reign – 70 years on the royal throne! . I will make sure that you are part of this celebration, because you are already part of the celebration, because you, like me, are already building the United Kingdom. Thank you for being here for 25 years, thank you for your contribution, and I look forward to what is yet to come, because I think the best is yet to come. Thank you.
Other distinguished guests included the Mayor of Birmingham, Muhammad Afzal ; H.E. Vanja Filipović, Ambassador of Bosnia and Herzegovina to the United Kingdom; Dr. Waqar Azmi OBE , President of Remembering Srebrenica; President of the BH UK Network, Mr. Zaim Pašić , and representatives of BH UK Network members and other local organizations.
Many awards and recognitions have been awarded to individuals, organizations and funders who supported the work of BH UK Network the past twenty-five years. Azra Bašić, a teacher in BH supplementary schools, addressed the audience with a performance of her wonderful sevdalinka. KUD Mladost Bosne had another opportunity to show their skills, which under the watchful eye of Fahira Hasedžić, with music and dance, definitely delighted the audience. Thank you to the ladies, our women from Bosnia and Herzegovina, who, as always, made an effort to welcome all the guests of this ceremony with traditional dishes.
Dear Bosnians and Herzegovinians in the UK, congratulations on 25 years of perseverance in promoting our homeland, Bosnia and Herzegovina. We hope that next year will be even more successful.
BH UK Network
