The European Parliament held a hearing on Wednesday about the lessons to be learned from history and the future of Europe on the occasion of the centennial of the start of World War I. Considering the events in Ukraine, the situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina should be an important priority for the European Union, Anadolu Agency reports.
Evangelos Venizelos, the Greek foreign minister, stated that Bosnia and Herzegovina is still in the focus of the political agenda in the EU and worldwide.
“The situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina, which is located in the center of the European continent, is still a center of attention for the European Union and the entire international community. This means a lot, just a century after the start of the World War I, which began because of events in Sarajevo. History does not always repeat itself, but B&H should be an important priority for our analysis and strategy,” the Greek minister said.
Joseph Daul, President of the European People’s Party, points out that Europe needs to monitor carefully all developments on the continent, not only in Ukraine, but also in Bosnia and Kosovo.
“Ladies and gentlemen, I think we are confident that a war is impossible on our continent, but we cannot remain silent on the events that we currently see in Sarajevo, Srebrenica, Kosovo and Ukraine,” said Daul.
Hannes Swoboda, president of the European Socialists and Democrats, proclaimed that the European Union must vigorously fight nationalism in B&H and the entire Balkan region.
“My first activity as a European Union official was to give my contribution to 1000 days of the siege of Sarajevo, which I experienced exactly at the place where the assassination of the Austro-Hungarian officials took place. It is a city of churches, synagogues and mosques, and Sarajevo was a symbol of coexistence between religions and cultures in the same state, and as such was an example for others. But due to irresponsible politicians, whose nationalism and hatred destroyed this coexistence, in Sarajevo today, you can see the scars of the siege and the bombings. Europe, led by MEP Doris Pack, tries to ensure peaceful coexistence in the Balkans and a common Europe. The fight against nationalism is the key to all of this,” said the head of the European Socialists.
