News in English     | 29.08.2019. 16:10 |

Komšić: Kulin Ban Charter speaks about the strength of Bosnian state of the time

FENA Vehid Begunić

ZENICA, August 29 (FENA) - I am not a historian, but I dare to say here that August 29, 1,189 and the creation of the Kulin Ban Charter is not a birth certificate of our country, but a strong, material or written testimony to the existence of our state even before the Charter itself was created. Today is not a day of birth, but a day of confirmation, not only about the existence of the state, but also a testimony to its maturity and ability to be unique, authentic and no one else’s than its own, said the Chairman of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Željko Komšić, at the central event of the marking of the 830th anniversary of the Kulin Ban Charter, held at the newly renovated Kulin Ban Park in Bilino polje in Zenica.

He noted that 830 years ago, the medieval state of Bosnia did not only emerge abruptly and, immediately after birth, was able, as an institution, to conclude contracts with other states.

“Therefore, it existed and developed even before that - institutionally, economically, culturally and demographically, to the very degree of sovereignty that was demonstrated on August 29, 1,189. The emergence of the Kulin Ban Charter, which also needs to be mentioned, was written in an authentic Bosnian Cyrillic script known as ‘bosančica’, speaks of the strength of the then state of Bosnia, which, despite being torn between East and West, found its place in this world,” reminded Komšić, who together with a member of the BiH Presidency Šefik Džaferović was the main patron of this event.

Even then, the Bosnian state, he added, was able to guarantee to another state, in this case to Dubrovnik and its traders, the freedom of trade, the free and unimpeded passage of traders.

“Meaning that the state was able to guarantee the safety of those who come here to do business and cooperate. What this tells us other than the stability that was then established in such conditions, the stability and security we still strive for today, which is a necessary precondition for any economic progress and cooperation, both within the country and with other countries in the region and the world,” said Komšić.

Kulin Ban’s guarantees to the merchants of Dubrovnik and the state of Dubrovnik, said Chairman Komšić testifies to the confidence and sense of power that prevailed in the region at the time.

But for any kind of cooperation, Komšić pointed out, at least two sides are needed, and the medieval state of Bosnia needed Dubrovnik and Dubrovnik needed Bosnia as such.

Such an inter-neighborly relationship, Komšić said, laid the foundations for the progress of both states.

“The openness that adorned Kulin Ban’s Bosnia can also be a roadmap for us today. In BiH today, we must again be prepared for any form of cooperation that is in the interest of the state of BiH and its citizens, in order to be a part of world affairs, and we will be, because our Bosnian people are gentle people; A nation that does not need much more than a show of basic respect for them and their country in order for cooperation to be possible. That is why we must fight for a state of BiH that will be stable and secure for all those who live here and those who come here, for a state that is ready for NATO and to be anywhere where such processes need to be supported,”  emphasized Komšić.

The BiH Presidency Member Šefik Džaferović recalled that the Charter was written at the time of Bosnia's great political and economic rise, but that BiH had existed before Kulin Ban and this Charter.

“The political path that Kulin Ban pursued and to a good extent was later continued by other Bosnian rulers, encouraged trade to the extent that it was almost astonishing,” Džaferović recalled, adding that diplomatic skills and craftsmanship made Kulin Ban important and recognizable.

Unfortunately, the aggressive behavior of the neighboring states and the denunciation of Bosnian rulers from that period, Džaferović said, continue to this day.

“The Bosnian Church was also under attack as another important feature of the medieval Bosnian state, to which all the peoples and rulers of Bosnia were greatly connected,” Džaferović said, adding that no external influences had succeeded in separating the Bosnian people from its authentic faith.

“Bosnia had its statehood and the judiciary at a time when many others did not. We should be proud of that. Even today, when attacks are being carried out against BiH, this is an opportunity to tell everyone that they will never succeed. We urge those within BiH who strive to further divide the country, those who want to disintegrate the state institutions, to just give up this futile effort,” warned Džaferović.

To the neighboring countries, Serbia and Croatia, he sent out a message they have an obligation to protect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of BiH and that this is their only obligation arising from the Dayton Peace Agreement.

“They have to respect BiH, at least as much as BiH respects them,” Džaferović concluded.  

(FENA) S. R.

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