IM on claims of Muslim discrimination

Interior Minister Ivica Dacic says there is no reason to "internationalize" the issue of the status of Bosniaks (Muslims) in Serbia. According to him, this minority enjoys all the rights. IM on claims of Muslim discrimination "There is no need to internationalize the problems of the Bosniaks in Sandzak (southwestern Serbia)," he said, and added that "any deterioration of the situation works to the detriment of the local Bosniaks". “We need to talk, but taking the problem to an international level is something that has been done before and something I doubt the international community is interested in doing again,” Dacic said. "We are ready to talk about everything, above all about the overall development of that entire region, because the deterioration of relations would not benefit anyone," the minister stressed during a break of a seminar dubbed Law on Workplace Violence Prevention - New Challenges in the Protection of Dignity held at the Serbian parliament. The Bosniak council called on Sunday in Novi Pazar on Bosnia-Herzegovina Presidency member Bakir Izetbegovic and Grand Mufti of the Islamic Community in Bosnia for assistance in internationalizing the issue of alleged violation of human and religious rights of the Bosniaks in Serbia. Commenting on Sarajevo's possible response to the call, Dacic expressed expectation that Bosnia will act in line with the agreement on developing good neighborly relations. “Serbia's goal is the further improvement and normalization of relations in the Balkans and, in accordance with that goal, in the last few years relations have advanced to the point where all legitimate rights and interests on the peoples and national minorities in the region are respected in full,” Dacic noted. Ivica Dacic (Tanjug, file)

IM on claims of Muslim discrimination

"There is no need to internationalize the problems of the Bosniaks in Sandžak (southwestern Serbia)," he said, and added that "any deterioration of the situation works to the detriment of the local Bosniaks".

“We need to talk, but taking the problem to an international level is something that has been done before and something I doubt the international community is interested in doing again,” Dačić said.

"We are ready to talk about everything, above all about the overall development of that entire region, because the deterioration of relations would not benefit anyone," the minister stressed during a break of a seminar dubbed Law on Workplace Violence Prevention - New Challenges in the Protection of Dignity held at the Serbian parliament.

The Bosniak council called on Sunday in Novi Pazar on Bosnia-Herzegovina Presidency member Bakir Izetbegović and Grand Mufti of the Islamic Community in Bosnia for assistance in internationalizing the issue of alleged violation of human and religious rights of the Bosniaks in Serbia.

Commenting on Sarajevo's possible response to the call, Dačić expressed expectation that Bosnia will act in line with the agreement on developing good neighborly relations.

“Serbia's goal is the further improvement and normalization of relations in the Balkans and, in accordance with that goal, in the last few years relations have advanced to the point where all legitimate rights and interests on the peoples and national minorities in the region are respected in full,” Dačić noted.