"Visit has religious meaning", says mufti

The leader of the Islamic Community in Bosnia Mustafa Ceric has caused a storm of reactions with his visit to Kosovo, reports say. It came when he announced he was visiting "the Islamic Community of the Republic of Kosovo". "Visit has religious meaning", says mufti Bosnia-Herzegovina has not recognized the Kosovo Albanians' unilateral declaration of independence. After meeting with Kosovo Mufti Naim Trnava, Ceric told B92 that his visit has exclusively religious meaning, with no politics involved, and went on to address the issue of his organization using that phrase on its website: "What political tone? That's what the Islamic community that has invited us is called and we have no right or intention of changing that, only communists would decide what something is called, how Islamic communities would behave, only during the time of communism were religious leaders told what to say, where to go." "Today we enjoy freedom of movement and we can express our religious, national institutions by names that suit our striving and of course our rights," stated Ceric. While in Pristina, he met with Kosovo President Fatmir Sejdiu, who called on him "to continue to work on Islamic countries to recognize Kosovo". After the meeting, a statement said that Ceric told Sejdiu Kosovo and Bosnia-Herzegovina will build "appropriate relations, as two countries with a Muslim majority". Sandzak Mufti Muamer Zukorlic is accompanying Ceric on his trip. But SDP leader and cabinet minister Rasim Ljajic does not believe that the joint visit to Kosovo "could affect a change of religious relations" in the southwestern region of Serbia. In Banja Luka, the largest town of the Republic of Srpska (RS) – Bosnia's Serb entity – Ceric's visit to Kosovo and the statements he has made are seen as a factor disturbing not only overall relations within Bosnia, but also in the region. The RS is sharply opposed to any attempts to have Bosnia-Herzegovina recognize the unilateral proclamation.

"Visit has religious meaning", says mufti

Bosnia-Herzegovina has not recognized the Kosovo Albanians' unilateral declaration of independence.

After meeting with Kosovo Mufti Naim Trnava, Cerić told B92 that his visit has exclusively religious meaning, with no politics involved, and went on to address the issue of his organization using that phrase on its website:

"What political tone? That's what the Islamic community that has invited us is called and we have no right or intention of changing that, only communists would decide what something is called, how Islamic communities would behave, only during the time of communism were religious leaders told what to say, where to go."

"Today we enjoy freedom of movement and we can express our religious, national institutions by names that suit our striving and of course our rights," stated Cerić.

While in Priština, he met with Kosovo President Fatmir Sejdiu, who called on him "to continue to work on Islamic countries to recognize Kosovo".

After the meeting, a statement said that Cerić told Sejdiu Kosovo and Bosnia-Herzegovina will build "appropriate relations, as two countries with a Muslim majority".

Sandžak Mufti Muamer Zukorlić is accompanying Cerić on his trip.

But SDP leader and cabinet minister Rasim Ljajić does not believe that the joint visit to Kosovo "could affect a change of religious relations" in the southwestern region of Serbia.

In Banja Luka, the largest town of the Republic of Srpska (RS) – Bosnia's Serb entity – Cerić's visit to Kosovo and the statements he has made are seen as a factor disturbing not only overall relations within Bosnia, but also in the region.

The RS is sharply opposed to any attempts to have Bosnia-Herzegovina recognize the unilateral proclamation.