Public panel in Oslo – Citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina in Norway want to participate in the Census!

On Saturday, 26.01.2013. year in Oslo was held a public debate titled “Census 2013 – the future of Bosnia and Herzegovina.” The debate was organized by the Association of young Bosnians in Norway “Tombstone” and guests at the debate were Prof. Besim Spahic, Dr. Muhamed Mesic and Darko Brkan from UG “Why not.”

At the debate, with the presence of over 150 citizens of BiH who live in Norway, discussed the practical issues related to the census 2013th in BiH, the legal consequences of the list, and on other topical issues surrounding the census. The most talked were the issues on the list of potential consequences in the context of ethnic Observations, which has led to a heated debate moments.

Narcis Gečević, President of the “Stecak” in his opening statement said that there is a great interest of the citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina in Norway for the  Census, which was confirmed by the attendance stands on the list. Prof. Besim Spahic, in his own way, he spoke of the origin and history of ethnic and other identities in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the region, as well as the political consequences because we live in a troubled state organization.

“Everyone has the right to declare himself a Serb, Croat or Bosniak on the census, but no one at the same time not to ban the Bosnians and others to declare that they want and how they feel!” Said Professor Spahic and concluded that “the fact that over 36% of citizens in both entities of Bosnia and Herzegovina in the pilot census declared themselves as Bosnians, speaks volumes about the fact that a lot of Bosnians current situation. ”

Dr. Muhamed Mesic, a young lawyer, hebrejist and Japanologist who lives in Vienna, spoke of the constitutional order of Bosnia and Herzegovina, as, as he put it, does not exist in any country in the world. The Bosnian “genius”, famous for being the world speaks 71 languages, his unique talent was used to study the constitutions of 218 countries in their original languages, however, he said, none of them have found the categories that are present in the constitution BiH. Mohammed stressed the need to change the model, as well as emergency deployment of the European Court of Human Rights in the ‘Sejdic and Finns “and so to completely equalize the rights of those who do not identify themselves as members / e one of the constituent nations of their rights enjoy the constituent peoples. In addition, Muhammad answered questions from the audience, who were concerned the importance of conducting census in the context of European integration of Bosnia and Herzegovina, with a focus on the legal aspect.

Darko Brkan, president of NGO “Why not,” he said of the coalition against the constitutional discrimination “Equality”, which was founded by several civil society organizations from across the country and that would advocate the complete abolition of all kinds of discrimination on ethnic grounds in BiH. Announced a campaign of the coalition about the census, under the slogan “For BiH against discrimination! Citizen of the country before the first “that will invite the citizens of BiH to vote on their list to show disagreement with ethnic supremacy and discrimination that is embedded in the current constitutional model of BiH and as such determines the functioning of the BiH society. Darko also answered questions more interested visitors of the panel how persons who reside abroad can participate in the census, as well as other technical aspects of the implementation list relevant to the people / of BiH in Oslo, and brought in all the concerns of civil society and the international community have in the context of the list.

On the discussion there was concluded that the census represents a great opportunity to start Bosnia towards EU integration, but also a chance to create a social base for much-needed reform of the state system in Bosnia and Herzegovina, which would eventually abolish all forms of constitutionally and legally validated discrimination ethnic lines and all male and female citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as nations get equal rights. The Report states that it is necessary as soon as possible to avert the possibility of manipulation enumeration process and ensure that the process and its results are valid and legitimate. Citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina who live in Norway have shown great interest in the list, and the desire to be active participants in the list, thereby affecting the future of their country of Bosnia and Herzegovina.