Bosnia and Herzegovina's 30th Independence Anniversary Celebrated in Fatih

The March 1st Independence Day of Bosnia and Herzegovina was celebrated with the special program organized by Fatih Municipality in cooperation with the Bosnian Embassy and the Preporod Bosniak Cultural Association.

The program hosted by Fatih Mayor M. Ergün Turan was attended by Bosnia and Herzegovina Ambassador Adis Alagić, Istanbul Provincial Director of Culture and Tourism Coşkun Yılmaz, AK Party Istanbul Provincial Head Osman Nuri Kabaktepe, AK Party Fatih District Head Orhan Narin, representatives of many non-governmental organizations along with Turkish and Bosnian citizens.

WE ARE ALWAYS WITH THE PEOPLE OF BOSNIA

In the program that started with a moment of silence, the national anthem of Turkey and the national anthem of Bosnia and Herzegovina were sung. Making the opening speech, Fatih Mayor M. Ergün Turan stated that he celebrated the friendly and brotherly country Bosnia and Herzegovina’s 30^th independence anniversary with his sincere feelings. In the continuation of his speech, Mayor Turan said: “I commemorate by God’s mercy the innocent Bosnians who were brutally murdered in the Srebrenica and Jepa genocides, which are among the most shameful and brutal incidents in the history of humanity, and our martyrs who lost their lives for the sake of independence. I commemorate Alija Izetbegović with respect and longing, who became a moral monument with his stance and lifestyle, and who was also one of the most honorable and most important intellectuals raised by the Islamic world. Bosnia and Herzegovina gained its independence with the just struggle of him and his friends. In this process, all of Turkey stood by the people of Bosnia as one, and will continue to do so in the future. Despite all the injustice and lawlessness that the people of Bosnia and Herzegovina were subjected to in the past, the dedication they have shown to live together in peace and harmony with their neighbors is admirable. I congratulate the March 1^st Independence Day of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and warmly greet everyone who graces our program with their presence from home and abroad.”

Speaking at the program, Provincial Director of Culture and Tourism Dr. Coskun Yilmaz stated: “As a historian who wrote his first academic articles on Bosnia and Herzegovina, I always say this; Sarajevo is Istanbul, Istanbul is Sarajevo, and the fates of both cities are inextricably bonded. Any step taken to break this bond is treason.”

I THANK PRESIDENT ERDOĞAN, WHO TIRELESSLY SUPPORTED OUR COUNTRY

Bosnia and Herzegovina Ambassador Adis Alagić said: “I would like to express my gratitude to the Fatih Municipality and the Preporod Bosniak Cultural Association who contributed to this evening. I would like to take this opportunity to thank our friends in Turkey, who are with us and who are not here today, who have not spared their tremendous sacrifice, determination and persistent efforts for the last 30 years. Our country is standing tall today thanks to your efforts, as well. I would like to express my endless thanks to President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and the Republic of Turkey, who tirelessly supported our country and our region and contributed greatly to the increase of peace and prosperity, and to our sincere friends of Bosnia and Herzegovina who are in every square meter of Turkey, and to our Turkish brothers.”

The program continued with concerts, poetry and dance performances of the Preporod Bosnian Cultural Association, one of the rare institutions that has witnessed the cultural and historical responsibilities of the Bosnian community for more than a century and is the pride of all Bosnians.