Bosnian envoy speaks at ‘PACE Collaborative Workshop’

Islamabad

Dr Nedim Makarevic, Ambassador of Bosnia-Herzegovina, has said that his country had close relations with Iran and Saudi Arabia.

The ambassador was responding to questions at the concluding session of 4-day ‘PACE Collaborative Workshop’ organised by Centre for Research and Security Studies here on Monday. Pakistan Centre of Excellence (PACE) is a project launched by CRSS under Countering Violent Extremism (CVE).

Dr Makarevic said that there is high level of education. If kids do not go to schools, parents are punished. He said that Imams from Middle East cannot preach Islam of particular sects in mosques. He said that one cannot force others to change.

Earlier, in his discourse, he said that Islam came in the region in 13-14 Century. He said there were 43% million Muslims lived in Bosnia before the war in 1990s and now they are 52%. He said that Serbs killed 200,000 Muslims during war. He said that we have 31 per cent Serbs. He elaborated past history of the country. He said that Jews also live in Bosnia.

Imtiaz Gul, Executive Director, CRSS, recalled Pak military help to the European Muslim state in 1990s when it was attacked by Serbia. He said that the excellency is a good singer and guitarist. He said that a diplomatic band in the city can play an important political role. He said that the message from the deliberations is that religion and politics should be kept separate.