“Serbia should provide equality in Sandžak”

Member of the Bosnia-Herzegovina Presidency Bakir Izetbegovic stated Friday that his country will not support any political adventures in Sandzak. He added however that they would support the tendencies towards a greater equality in that area. “Serbia should provide equality in Sandzak” When asked about the key steps that Belgrade and Sarajevo needed to take in order to continue improving their relations, Izetbegovic said that they should talk more, which would result in less prejudice and misunderstandings, adding that the issue of borders, property, use of natural resources should be resolved as well. He told Novi Sad-based daily Dnevnik, that "Serbia needs to show more concern for its citizens in Sandzak, to help them and enable equality for them." He stated the example of Novi Pazar, which has about 100,000 inhabitants, 80 percent of whom are Bosniaks, noting, however, that "when you look at the percentage of Bosniaks in police and court structures or when you read the names of elementary schools, you can spot the inequality between them and their Serb fellow citizens." When asked if the region was finally nearing reconciliation, he stressed that "we are moving away from war, and going towards reconciliation and the normalization of relations." "Zagreb and Belgrade are finally giving a positive example, which has transferred to the relations in BiH," Izetbegovic underscored. Bakir Izetbegovic (Tanjug, file)

“Serbia should provide equality in Sandžak”

When asked about the key steps that Belgrade and Sarajevo needed to take in order to continue improving their relations, Izetbegović said that they should talk more, which would result in less prejudice and misunderstandings, adding that the issue of borders, property, use of natural resources should be resolved as well.

He told Novi Sad-based daily Dnevnik, that "Serbia needs to show more concern for its citizens in Sandžak, to help them and enable equality for them."

He stated the example of Novi Pazar, which has about 100,000 inhabitants, 80 percent of whom are Bosniaks, noting, however, that "when you look at the percentage of Bosniaks in police and court structures or when you read the names of elementary schools, you can spot the inequality between them and their Serb fellow citizens."

When asked if the region was finally nearing reconciliation, he stressed that "we are moving away from war, and going towards reconciliation and the normalization of relations."

"Zagreb and Belgrade are finally giving a positive example, which has transferred to the relations in BiH," Izetbegović underscored.