In the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina, a ceremony was held in memory of the first president of the independent country, Alija Izetbegovic. The event took place at the Kovaci Martyrs’ Cemetery in Sarajevo, where the outstanding leader of Bosnian Muslims lies buried.
The ceremony was attended by Chairman of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina Zeljko Komsic, Chairman of the National Defense Commission of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey and Turkish MP Hulusi Akar, son of the late leader and Chairman of the Party democratic action Bakir Izetbegovic, as well as ambassadors of Turkey and other countries, members of the public and hundreds of residents of Sarajevo.
The event began with the reading of verses from the Koran. Participants laid flowers on Izetbegovic’s grave and said prayers.
Zeljko Komsic, speaking to the audience, emphasized the importance of Izetbegovic’s personality for the country.
“He forever inscribed his name in the history of Bosnia and Herzegovina. He was the first leader of independent Bosnia, a man who, in difficult times, took upon himself a huge responsibility. He was a wise and benevolent man, and his memory should always be respected,” Komsic said.
It is impossible to forget such a leader
Hulusi Akar, who arrived from Turkey to participate in the event, called Izetbegovic “an outstanding statesman, military man and thinker.”
He noted that Türkiye continues to honor memory of the Bosnian leader and support the people of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
“It is difficult to list everything that Izetbegovic did. On the one hand, his political and practical activities, on the other, his ideas and books. He survived the most difficult trials, but acted with wisdom, determination and courage. His views and works are an example not only for Bosnians, but also for all oppressed peoples. This is true a leader who cannot be forgotten,” he said.
Akar recalled that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan visited Izetbegovic in the last days of his life.
“Then he said words that became a spiritual testament: “I hand over our country and people to you, support them and be close.” Today Türkiye is fulfilling this covenant by doing everything possible for the brothers from Bosnia and Herzegovina,” explained Akar.
– Aliya Izetbegovic
The Bosnian leader was born on August 8, 1925 in the city of Bosanski Šamac. During World War II he opposed fascism and then the communist regime. He was one of the founders of the Young Muslims movement, for which he was arrested twice in 1946 and 1983.
In 1990, he created the Democratic Action Party (SDA), which remains the leading political force of Bosnian Muslims. During the 1992-1995 war, Izetbegovic led the fight for the country’s independence and signed the Dayton Peace Agreement, which ended the war and ensured international recognition of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Due to health problems, Izetbegovic resigned as a member of the Presidium in 2000 and died on October 19, 2003 in Sarajevo.