Sandžak parties fail to back declaration

Two leading Sandzak parties have not supported a declaration sponsored by the Islamic Community in Serbia (IZuS). The SDP and SDA believe that "a religious community should not take part in a political issue". Sandzak parties fail to back declaration A meeting in Novi Pazar, sponsored by the Islamic organization led by Muamer Zukorlic, adopted a declaration expressing concern over the political and economic position of Bosniaks (Muslims), and asking the government to "take into account the specific characteristics of Sandzak" when considering the issue of regional development and future constitutional and legal solutions. After the meeting that took more than eight hours, the participants also said there was "economic discrimination" of the Sandzak residents, and asked Belgrade to come up with an economic revival plan for the southwestern region. The declaration expresses concern over what it described as "violation of Muslims' human rights in Serbia", and asked for the minister of religion to be sacked because of his statements during the recent visit of the Bosnian Grand Mufti Mustafa Ceric. The participants in the gathering – Islamic community representatives, NGOs and minor local parties – also asked that "tearing apart" of Sandzak be prevented. The Rasim Ljajic-led SDP officials attended the meeting, but did not support the document, because, as Munir Poturak put it, it could cause confusion and new divisions, and stand in the way of the elected Bosniak representatives who are fighting for their community's interests in the state institutions. Poturak also advised for "these problems to be solved within institutions". Sulejman Ugljanin's SDA also failed to support the document. The party representatives did not show up at the gathering either. SDA official Esad Dzudzevic reminded that the Bosniak National Council, which has the right to deal with these questions under the Constitution, had already made its stand known on all of the issues mentioned in the declaration. He added that this was "not a job for the Islamic Community". Both parties have announced that they and their partners would cooperate in asking the government that the six Sandzak municipalities remain part of one region under a new law on regional development.

Sandžak parties fail to back declaration

A meeting in Novi Pazar, sponsored by the Islamic organization led by Muamer Zukorlić, adopted a declaration expressing concern over the political and economic position of Bosniaks (Muslims), and asking the government to "take into account the specific characteristics of Sandžak" when considering the issue of regional development and future constitutional and legal solutions.

After the meeting that took more than eight hours, the participants also said there was "economic discrimination" of the Sandžak residents, and asked Belgrade to come up with an economic revival plan for the southwestern region.

The declaration expresses concern over what it described as "violation of Muslims' human rights in Serbia", and asked for the minister of religion to be sacked because of his statements during the recent visit of the Bosnian Grand Mufti Mustafa Cerić.

The participants in the gathering – Islamic community representatives, NGOs and minor local parties – also asked that "tearing apart" of Sandžak be prevented.

The Rasim Ljajić-led SDP officials attended the meeting, but did not support the document, because, as Munir Poturak put it, it could cause confusion and new divisions, and stand in the way of the elected Bosniak representatives who are fighting for their community's interests in the state institutions.

Poturak also advised for "these problems to be solved within institutions".

Sulejman Ugljanin's SDA also failed to support the document. The party representatives did not show up at the gathering either. SDA official Esad Džudžević reminded that the Bosniak National Council, which has the right to deal with these questions under the Constitution, had already made its stand known on all of the issues mentioned in the declaration. He added that this was "not a job for the Islamic Community".

Both parties have announced that they and their partners would cooperate in asking the government that the six Sandžak municipalities remain part of one region under a new law on regional development.