After the SPD representative in the Bundestag, Josip Juratovic, was denied the right to speak at the recent commemoration of the anniversary of the genocide in Srebrenica in Stuttgart, Juratovic told N1 that the organizers succumbed to the Bosniak nationalists’ pressure, but that he firmly believes in Bosnia without nationalists.

BiH associations that gather Bosniaks in Germany and which are behind the organization of this event gave in to the pressure of Bosniak nationalists, Juratovic believes, adding that they took over the meeting for the purpose of the election campaign in Bosnia, before the October general election.

“I'm sorry because all these years I provided support with my actions and presence and now they gave in under the pressure of Bosniak nationalists led by Bakir Izetbegovic. They shamelessly took over this humane gathering marking the 27th anniversary of the genocide in Srebrenica for the purpose of their election campaign,” said Josip Juratovic, a German Bundestag MP.

BiH officials Bakir Izetbegovic and Zeljko Komsic participated in the gathering in Germany. The organizers of the event, who in March invited Juratovic to take part in the commemoration and to give a speech, meanwhile denied him the opportunity to speak with the explanation that they do not agree with his views expressed in connection with the Resolution on Bosnia and Herzegovina adopted by the Bundestag.

Juratovic, who has been active in the political life of Germany for many years, is known for his criticism of the Croat Democratic Union (HDZ BiH) leader Dragan Covic and Alliance of Independent Social Democrats (SNSD) leader Milorad Dodik. However, after he insisted that, in addition to Dodik and Covic, Bakir Izetbegovic, the leader of the Democratic Action Party (SDA), should also be marked in the Resolution as the culprit for the bad situation in BiH, he became the subject of various accusations.

Nevertheless, Juratovic, in his comments for N1, thanked the vast majority of Bosniaks who encourage him.

“I want to thank the vast majority of Bosniaks and other honourable people who encourage me despite the shameless persecution of me by the nationalists. Thank you for not losing faith in my sincere struggle for our united Bosnia and Herzegovina without nationalists,” said Juratovic.