Speaking with the Sarajevo-based Dnevni Avaz daily, Hasanović said that the Bosniaks in Croatia enjoy all human rights and that the agreement which the Islamic community signed with Croatia in 2002 can be used as a model for all minority communities in Europe.
But all this is not enough if the relationship between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia is bad, he said, adding that this makes him unhappy.
“It is worse now than it was during the war. The present communication, without going into who is right and who is wrong, is not good. We need to talk,” the mufti said.
Hasanović said that the Bosniaks make up 75 percent of the Islamic community in Croatia, they are emotionally tied to Bosnia and Herzegovina and any negative statements hurt them.
He said that dialogue is imperative and that people who make public statements that worsen relations between the peoples of Bosnia and Herzegovina should bear this in mind. “I also tell this to politicians here who have this militant or ignorant narrative,” he added, warning that the present situation could have dangerous consequences in the future.
Hasanović said that the Bosniaks, given their experience in the war, are particularly concerned about the rhetoric of politicians in Bosnia and Herzegovina who downplay the genocide committed at Srebrenica in 1995. He said that their hopes lie with the United States and the European Union, believing that their policies can help make Bosnia and Herzegovina a country acceptable to all its citizens.
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