Bosnian and Palestinian Bilateral Relations Current Political Situation Regarding the Palestinian Issue

Transcription

1 Bosnian and Palestinian Bilateral Relations Current Political Situation Regarding the Palestinian Issue Dear Rector of the University of Sarajevo, Your Excellencies, Ambassadors and members of the diplomatic corps, ladies and gentlemen, academicians and members of the University Council at the faculties, ladies and gentlemen, members of the University Rectorate's staff, students, and all of you distinguished guests: Let the peace be with you, God's mercy and His blessings. First of all, I would like to express sincere gratitude to the Rector and members of the University Rectorate's staff, for the given opportunity to meet with you in this great building of the University of Sarajevo, which represents the most important scientific and educational institution in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and to meet this special elite consisting of Dean and professors of this leading University, as well as the elite of ambassadors and diplomatic corps members, teachers and students of the University to talk with you. Please allow me to divide my presentation into two main parts: The first: Bilateral Bosnian-Palestinian relations The second: The current political situation concerning the Palestinian issue First: the Bosnian-Palestinian relations Bosnian-Palestinian relations are extending over many decades, through something what is historically Palestine and Jerusalem as the capital, through visits to religious destinations of Christians and Muslims in Jerusalem, Bethlehem and Nazareth, with places of worship such as the Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, the existing churches in Nazareth, in particular of the Church of the Annunciation. Therefore, Palestine and its towns, throughout history are represented as the cradle of three monotheistic religions. Also, families currently living in many Palestinian cities will confirm this, and the best examples are the families who call themselves Muslim, whose historical roots are related to Bosnia. This relationship was developed even prior the independence of Bosnia and Herzegovina, i.e. during the period of former Yugoslavia. This relationship was characterized by providing significant support to the Palestinian people to gain their freedom and independence and to establish an independent Palestinian state with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital. This was manifested through the political support of the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) and logistical support for the Palestinian uprising as the question of national liberation and through receiving of thousands Palestinian students who gained their undergraduate and postgraduate education (MA and PhD) in all cities within the former Yugoslavia, especially in Sarajevo, Mostar, Tuzla, Banja Luka, Belgrade, Zagreb and other. The special relationship between the two deceased leader Josip Broz Tito and Yasser Arafat is worth of mentioning, appearing in the form of aid and assistance to Palestine and the complete harmonization of political attitudes with the Non-Aligned Movement position. When Bosnia and Herzegovina declared independence, Palestine supported the right of Bosnia and Herzegovina to self-determination in accordance with the international law. This was supported by giving political support to all international and regional

2 forums and throughout direct support to people of Bosnia and Herzegovina, consisting of three nationalities. The special historical relationship between two deceased leaders Alija Izetbegović and Yasser Arafat is the best proof of it, where Palestine at all levels, especially at political, at all regional and international forums, especially in the Non- Aligned Movement and the Organization of Islamic Conference, gave support to Bosnia and Herzegovina to gain independence. 1) Within the political and diplomatic area; Recognition between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Palestine, opening States Embassy of Palestine in Bosnia with all diplomatic privileges in 2000, Visit by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Palestine to Bosnia to participate in the Mostar bridge opening ceremony in 2004, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina visited Ramallah and met with President Mahmoud Abbas and Minister of Foreign Affairs in 2007, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Palestine, visited Bosnia and Herzegovina in April 2010, In April 2010 the Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of both countries in the purpose political consultations were signed, Palestinian supporting of Bosnia and Herzegovina at international forums, voting in favor of Goldstone's latest report, voting in the Security Council in favor of the resolution calling for halt of settlement, which was vetoed by the United States and declined in ) In the area of culture, tourism and sports: Participation in the festival Sarajevo Days of poetry and the awarding the poet Mahmoud Darwish in 2008, and having his poems translated into Bosnian, The Palestinian Minister of Culture visited Bosnia and met with Bosnian Minister of Culture. Then future bilateral relations got established since in 2010, Palestinian participating in the Baščaršija Nights through the presentation of folk and traditional arts with 17 participants from Palestinian expatriates in 2010, Visit by the Supreme Mufti of Quds and Judge of Judges to the City of Sarajevo in 2010, Participation of the President and Secretary General of the Palestinian Central Election Commission in overseeing the Bosnian elections, which took place a year ago. In 2011, the Athletic Club was invited to participate in the celebration of the 63 anniversary of the tragedy in Ramallah, Preparations for the signing of a Memorandum on cultural, tourist and sporting understanding after the formation of a new government.

3 3) Education and cooperation with civic organizations: Bosnia and Herzegovina has provided scholarships for Palestinian students, and currently there are: 10 students at the University of Sarajevo, 26 students at the University of Tuzla. They are studding at the medical, pharmaceutical, agricultural, veterinary and other faculties. It is worth mentioning that there is continued cooperation with civil society organizations such as Merhamet, the Bosnian Red Cross, the Association of Bosnian- Palestinian friendship. Subsequently the bilateral relations were established with the Palestinian Red Crescent and other institutions. These institutions sent in-kind assistance and financial help to Palestine during and after the Israeli blockade and Gaza attacks. So the Merhamet donated five ambulance vehicles and approximately 40,000 KM to the Department of Palestinian Red Crescent in Gaza. The Bosnian Red Cross and the Municipality of Novo Sarajevo sent a monetary donation in the Gaza Strip during the siege. Also it is worth mentioning that the Association of Bosnian- Palestinian friendship sent 70,000 KM in the Gaza Strip through the Palestinian Red Crescent. Also, we are building excellent relations with all religious authorities in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Also, political parties in both countries were playing and still play an important role in consolidating the bilateral relations and their development. General notes: In order to establish relationships at all levels and develop bilateral relations, it is necessary as soon as possible to open the Embassy of Bosnia and Herzegovina in Palestine. Second: Current Political Situation Regarding the Palestinian Issue In three days the Palestinian people will mark the sixty-third anniversary of the Nakba, or the suffering of the Palestinian people, which is driven off their land in Palestine to be displaced throughout the world; the same Palestinian people who have continued suffering due to abusing, murders and expulsion for almost more than a century. It all started with settling the Jews on the ground of Palestine, as by the World Zionist Organization and by encouragement of the government Great Britain's colonial government at that time, through the Balfour Declaration on establishing the Jewish state in Palestine. Since May 15, 1948, the Israel has been celebrating founding of its imposter state. The Palestinian people, remembering their suffering and expulsion, determined to gain their freedom and right to establish their independent state with Jerusalem (Quds) as the capital, and fulfill their right to return Palestinian refugees, under the leadership of the Palestine Liberation Organization, as the leader of their struggle, in order to complete the plan at the national level.

4 When we talk about the current situation in Palestine, we will be tackling radical democratic changes through which the Arab world and how it reflects on the issue of the Palestinian people, because this issue is morphed by the interests and priorities of these peoples, and that has been for several decades, formed the first feature of Arab regimes, management and the imposition of restrictions on human freedoms and posit their suppression. Given the large dimensions of the Arab influence in the field of the Palestinian national struggle, confrontation and national struggle that has happen and exposed to the impact of changes and major events in the Arab region as a cause of, or has been perceived in a positive or negative way, directly affected the performance of the Palestinian, taking into account the changes around the world in presence and in the last few decades. One political analyst said that the world now witnessed a natural tsunami to which Japan had been exposed and that the world had saw on television channels, and the Arab political tsunami was the thing that had happened and was happening in the Arab region and the Middle East, which had started in Tunisia and Egypt. It is a democratic change that leads to freedom and democracy. In Libya, Yemen, Syria, the changes currently taking place have not yet been completed, a similar popular movements and the ongoing reforms are in Algeria, Bahrain and Morocco. Further, out of slogans raised by rebels and demands on people's demonstrations the following can be summarized: People want to overthrow the regime, because "the rulers have not changed for last few decades, Demanding general freedom for media and freedom of expression" free and fair elections "parliaments and municipal councils", The establishment of democracy and the fight against corruption and settling the scores with persons indulged in corruption. The Palestinian person that is part of the Arab nation and that should be influenced by what happens around him, due to its positive effects on the very Palestinian people, then due to its special status under the occupation, and because of his prior democratic experience, despite the disunity, occupation and regional interference in the internal state. going back up 50 years in past, despite the specificity of the Palestinian people in conjunction with one another division during the revolution and armed struggle that was waged for decades, after the establishment of a Palestinian National Government in the West Bank and Gaza, people got used to democracy as much as possible. The PLO, since its founding in the mid sixties, has been formed on a pluralistic basis that reflects the multiplicity of Palestinian organizations in the civil service and institutions that represent different sectors of youth, student, labor and women's organizations, where each of these organizations shall be selected or given consent. Then it is presented to the Palestinian National Council, which elects the Executive Committee of the organization and its President. After the Oslo agreements and the establishment of a Palestinian national government the first elections were conducted in The whole world was convinced in the impartiality of elections boycotted by Hamas, and at which was elected the first Legislative Council and the late Yasser Arafat with 84%.

5 In 2005, after Yasser Arafat passed away as a martyr, at elections whose regularity was witnessed the whole world, with approximately 63% of votes Mahmud Abbas was elected for the president. This is a precedent in the Arab world that is accustomed that president always receive 99% or to appoint for the successor some of his sons. In early 2006, the legislative elections were held, where the Palestinians through the Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas insisted that Hamas, as a representative of the Palestinian people, be involved in the Palestinian elections. Despite all political and financial pressures from the United States, Israel and many other countries opposing, elections were held with absolute transparency. Hamas won a majority in the Legislative Council, and the Palestinian people has paid a high price for their democratic choice. Since there was a schism occurring due to Hamas' seizure of Gaza in 2007, the Palestinian people feel the bitterness of the schism and the brutality of Israeli occupation. Therefore, the Palestinian people came out to locations in Gaza and the West Bank and the Galilee, urging to have the division stopped via the occupation's end. The demonstrators were shouting: People want the end of schism! People want the end of occupation! Because of the national movement to end the schism, President Mahmoud Abbas launched an initiative to end the division, by expressing a wish to visit the Gaza Strip and to agree to the following: a) To form a national unity government of independent Palestinian jurisdiction. b) The government's task is to prepare the presidential and parliamentary elections during a certain period of time. There is no doubt that the changes that have occurred in neighboring countries and changes in regional interests forced Hamas to sign the document on reconciliation, which the Fatah movement has signed more than two years with some explanations. Last Wednesday, on 04 \ 05 \ 2011t, the document on reconciliation of the two largest factions in the Palestinian territories: Fatah and Hamas, was signed. In this way the Palestinian people are to re-establish national unity, which is an essential foundation for the victory against the Israeli occupier, through the struggle to restore our national rights to all resources that are guaranteed by the international law and the laws and the Charter of the United Nations, and through the national reconciliation and through the gathering around the Palestine Liberation Organization as the sole legitimate representative of the Palestinian people. Key components of the document on reconciliation are: Each of the two sides signed the Egyptian reconciliation document, which was created in October 2009, and which includes five commissions: the reform of the PLO, for the elections, for reconciliation, for joint operations and for the prisoners. Hamas and Fatah signed the document on the understanding that emerged last fall in the Syrian capital Damascus, in which they covered issues such as the formation of the

6 Central Election Committee consisting of independent candidates, from which both sides agree. Establishment of the Electoral Tribunal which shall consist of 12 independent candidates was selected by both movements in coordination with President Abbas. holding of the presidential and parliamentary elections and elections for the Palestinian National Council in the period that lasts no longer than a year from the date of the agreement signing. Establishing a committee to discuss the restructuring of the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) and Palestinian National Council. Commission, which will include members from both movements, members of the Central Committee of the Organization, the president of the National Council and several independent candidates, shall be chaired by President Abbas. Establishment of the High Security Council to address issues related to security force factions which, according to the Egyptian document, should unite into fully professional security forces. forming a transitional government consisting of independent candidates who have national and professional qualifications, as agreed by both parties. The temporary government will have six main priorities: 1 - Creating the conditions for presidential, parliamentary and elections for the National Council. 2 - Monitoring the implementation of the Egyptian document agenda. 3 - Regulation of matters relating to charities and community organizations. 4 - Addressing the security and administrative issues that have arisen from the Palestinian schism. 5 - Unification of the institutions of state administration in the West Bank, Gaza Strip and the Quds (Jerusalem). 6 - Continuation of efforts aimed at ending the Israeli blockade of Gaza and reconstruction in the area. Now, after the Palestinian people began rebuilding their national unity and ending the schism, Israel began setting up barriers to circumvention of unity and using threats and intimidation of the PLO and the blocking of tax revenue, which reached 100 million U.S. dollars that our nation is entitled to, by starving our strong nation until its surrender, threatening to isolate the Palestinian national government and threatening to choosing between true peace and unity among Palestinians. Peace for Israel which, through delays, aggression and displacement of the Palestinian people, considers as the non-existent. The Palestinian people had made a major concession by accepting a Palestinian state on the borders of 05 June 1967, and the West Bank, including East Quds (Jerusalem) and Gaza, which represents 22% of the land of old Palestine, based

7 on two states living side by side in peace and freedom. It was approved by the international community, primarily the United States, Europe and all countries of the world. However, Israel still occupies the land, converting to Jew Quds (Jerusalem), snatches Palestinian land, builds the Apartheid Wall, built settlements in the West Bank, besieged Gaza Strip, trying to reduce the draft of our country by changing the draft policy on the establishment of a Palestinian state that would the people have, like every other nation on Earth. The Palestinian people are the only people on Earth who still suffers because of the occupation, and hatred of the enemy. The peace process is facing serious crisis since, Benjamin Netanyahu's coming to power in order to head this, right-wing oriented government in Israel. His alliance has been marked as a religious-nationalist coalition, which has absolutely nothing to do with peace but with the settlement and encouraging to this, looting property, fraud and abuse. According to him, it is the best economical solution is, in terms of improving the conditions of life under occupation. The Palestinian people and their leadership wants to end the occupation and establishing an independent Palestinian state, unlike Israel, which conducting the organized state terrorism. The U.S. peace envoy, Mr. Mitchell has visited the region for 27 times and held 31 meetings up to November Without having any progress achieved. On the contrary, during each his visit Israel was announcing the construction of new housing units. Likewise, the United States for 23 times used the power of veto, of which 18 defended Israeli usurping of Palestinian rights. Last time, it was recently, and against a resolution condemning the Israeli settlement of our country, settlements opposed by the entire world, including Bosnia and Herzegovina. Now is the time to do just the thing for the Palestinian people, and that is to make it allowed to self-determination and establish an independent Palestinian state, after having done nearly 288 of negotiations with Israel and having established 12 commissions to deal with all issues, including borders, settlements, prisoners, refugees, water, security and Quds (Jerusalem). Thus, the Palestinian leadership after the failure of all these efforts has decided to address the United Nations in September to be recognized as a full member of the United Nations, and on the borders of 04 June 1967, as claimed by Mr. Obama, and as the four member Commission adopted a decision on the two states vision, which expires in September next. It is worth mentioning that the National Council made all preparations to ensure the infrastructure for the laws, regulations and other requirements, by the approval of the United Nations and its organizations. President Mahmud Abbas, who is also Chairman of the Executive Committee of Palestine Liberation Organization and Chairman of the Palestinian National Authority, upon signing the document on reconciliation in Cairo confirmed: Commitment to inalienable national rights of Palestinians, supported by international resolutions, Establishment of a Palestinian state within the borders of 04 June 1967, with the East Quds (Jerusalem) as capital The absence of any potential presence of Israeli soldiers, solving problems of Palestinian refugees under United Nations Resolution 194,

8 Adherence to the Arab peace initiative, The release of Palestinian prisoners from Israeli prisons, Asking the Israeli prime minister to choose peace, rather than settling. Ladies and gentlemen: We invite the whole world, all countries and nations, to stand on the side of the Palestinian people in their legitimate struggle for their freedom and independence, in accordance with international law and rights, to support the implementation of the right of return, in accordance with Resolution 194 issued by the United Nations And establishing an independent Palestinian state with its capital in East Quds (Jerusalem), with the borders of June On this occasion I would like to express my hope that the state of Bosnia and Herzegovina will support the establishment of a Palestinian state, which is planned to be declared next September, which will be the victory of truth, international law and legality. Thank you for your time!