Formal lecture on the occasion of March 1 - Independence Day of Bosnia and Herzegovina

The Faculty of Islamic Pedagogy of the University of Zenica has been celebrating Statehood Day and Independence Day of Bosnia and Herzegovina for several years. It's the same this time, 26. In February 2019, a special lecture was held at the Faculty on the topic "BiH Independence Day in the context of the past and the current political moment", and the guest lecturer was respected university professor and former Minister of Foreign Affairs of BiH Prof. Dr. Zlatko Lagumdžija.

In addition to IPF students, the director of the Directorate for Foreign Affairs and Diaspora of Rijaset Islamic Community in BiH was also present at the lecture. Razim Čolić, Vice-Chancellors of the University of Zenica Prof. Dr. Enes Hašić and Prof. Dr. Hasan Mahmutović, and several teachers and deans of the University of Zenica.

In his address, the professor referred to his return from the United States of America to Bosnia and Herzegovina before the aggression against Bosnia and Herzegovina, historical events on the international and domestic scene, and today's global developments at the international level.

He especially addressed the students with a message that they should strive to acquire as much knowledge as possible, whether at local or foreign faculties, but to tie their future to this country. Time passes much faster than when he first went to study abroad and that today it is not a problem to go somewhere, but that he always has the thought of returning and applying that knowledge in his own country. Many times in his life he wondered if he made a mistake in making the decision to return, but today, from the distance of this time, he can say with certainty that he was not and that he would do the same again.

He also emphasized that the secessionist aspirations of some political options have no perspective if we are a unique and strong integrating factor.

The destroyers of Bosnia and Herzegovina were much stronger and in a better position in 1992 than they were then, so again they could not break the continuity of Bosnia and Herzegovina's statehood.

After the address of Prof. dr. Zlatko Lagumdžija answered the questions posed by students and professors. He thanked the dean Prof. Dr. To Halil Mehtić for the invitation and for having the honor to address such a beautiful gathering.

Dean of the Faculty Prof. Dr. Halil Mehtić thanked the respected professor, guests and students for responding to this lecture. He pointed out that the situation in our country today is identical to the one before the referendum was called, and therefore the need to talk about this topic is much greater. That's why we decided to invite a professor who was an active participant in the events of the nineties, but also a good connoisseur of current developments on the geopolitical scene.