The IX South-East European Gathering

Budva, 25 – 27. May, 2012

Speech by Dr Zlatko Lagumdžija, Deputy Chairman of the Council of Ministers and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina at the IX South-East European Gathering – „E Pluribus Unum“ and „United in Diversity“

Ladies and gentlemen,

It is a great pleasure and a great honour to stand here before this respective audience and give a speech at the IX South-East European Gathering. Looking at the brochure/invitation of this distinguished program I noticed a phrase. “E PLURIBUS UNUM”!

1. “E PLURIBUS UNUM” and the United States of America

This phrase, which is present on the Seal of the United States and which is de facto motto of the United States (de facto since it was never codified- official motto of the US is “In God We Trust) tells us a lot about American society. "E Pluribus Unum" was the motto proposed for the first Great Seal of the United States by John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, and Thomas Jefferson in 1776. A Latin phrase meaning "One from many," the phrase offered a strong statement of the American determination to form a single nation from a collection of states. Over the years, "E Pluribus Unum" has also served as a reminder of America's attempt to make one unified nation of people from many different backgrounds and beliefs. The challenge of seeking unity while respecting diversity has played a critical role in shaping US history, US literature, and US national character. Originally suggesting that out of many colonies or states emerge a single nation, in recent years it has come to suggest that out of many peoples, races, religions and ancestries has emerged a single people and nation where “all men are created equal” as it is stated in the “Declaration of Independence”.1Thus, USA have been democratically developing its “One from many” society for more than two centuries.

2. United in Diversity and the European Union

1 Thus, the ideas of Locke or Montesquieu and other similar writers contributed to the American embrace of "republican" ideology in the years before the Revolution. Standing in opposition to tyrants, republicanism called for the protection of liberty through the rule of law and civic virtue. The ideological movement known as the American Enlightenment was a critical precursor to the American Revolution. Chief among the ideas of the American Enlightenment were the concepts of liberalism, democracy, republicanism, and religious tolerance.

1 Europe was another story. Although there have been ideas of peacefully creating so called “United States of Europe”2 or federation of European republics3 the development of democratic European unification was kept until the end of WWII. Starting with the Council of Europe and “Schuman Doctrine”, European countries slowly started to unite in its diversity. Hence, in year 2000, the European Union adopted 'United in Diversity' (Latin: In varietate concordia) as official Motto, a reference to the many and diverse member states of the Union in terms of culture. In adopting this official EU motto European Commission stated:

“ The motto means that, via the EU, Europeans are united in working together for peace and prosperity, and that the many different cultures, traditions and languages in Europe are a positive asset for the continent.”4

Ladies and gentlemen,

Human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law and respect for human rights are the values on which the European Union is founded. Furthermore, one of the distinguishing features of democracy, especially when we are able to extend its realm beyond that of our holding elections, is the acceptance of diversity among religions and spiritual movements, among cultures and traditions, among customs and languages. It is important to respect these differences and seek to learn from them. "Unity-and-diversity" applies to the whole society. It is, in fact, the essence of democracy. It applies to races, cultures, religions, sexual preferences, and the like. It also applies to the peace movement, the justice movement, the environmental movement...

Thus, in nurturing the EU motto of “Unity in Diversity”, the region of Southeastern Europe can make a significant contribution to European and global inter-religious and intercultural dialogue. Its uniqueness is its centuries old traditional religious and cultural diversity. The region has different constituent peoples as well as different religions. Cultural differences are what make this region immensely rich, though its inhabitants, it seems, are not fully aware of that fact.

Take the example of my country, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Few cities in the world in its center, in the range of 300 meters, have a religious monument of four different confessions. Sarajevo is one of these few. For centuries we have lived as one society. We have been living as Christians

2 George Washington wrote to Marquis de La Fayette: "One day, on the model of the United States of America, a United States of Europe will come into being."

3 Italian writer and politician Giuseppe Mazzini called for the creation of a federation of European republics in 1843. This set the stage for perhaps the best known early proposal for peaceful unification, through cooperation and equality of membership, made by the pacifist Victor Hugo in 1847. Hugo used the term 'United States of Europe' (États-Unis d'Europe) during a speech at the International Peace Congress, organised by Mazzini, held in Paris in 1849. Other possible “unifications” of Europe were military based and one country dominated (Napoleon, Hitler…)

4 http://europa.eu/about-eu/basic-information/symbols/motto/index_en.htm

2 and Muslims and Jews throughout existence of different Empires, Kingdoms, Fascist and Communist states. But twenty years ago when one wall, that in Berlin, fell down, many different walls were built in this region and many different bridges were shattered. It is time, twenty years from destroying our bridges and building some new walls to do the opposite. It is time to rebuild these bridges of confidence, trust, mutual cooperation and common future. It is time to influence Europe by our natural diversity and tradition.

It is no coincidence that the two UNESCO World Heritage Monuments in Bosnia are bridges - nice lightweight buildings over the Neretva River in Mostar and a long hard Mehmed Pasha Sokolovic spanning the Drina in Visegrad. Writing about bridges, prominent BH author, a Nobel price Laureate Ivo Andric once wrote:

“In everything that man pushes by his vital instinct, builds and raises, nothing is more beautiful or more precious than bridges. Bridges are more important than houses, more sacred because they are more useful than temples. They belong to everybody and they are the same for everybody, always built in the right place in which the major part of human necessity crosses, more durable than all other constructions and they do not serve for anything secret or bad.”

These bridges must be rebuilt in Bosnia and in the region. We must connect our region and unite it in its diversity. The path to Europe and EU is the way. Europe, united in its diversity, is our tool and our goal. That is why I am very happy and optimistic about this region. Croatia is soon to become a member state of the European Union. Serbia has its candidate status as well as Montenegro. Bosnia and Herzegovina moves forward with the region and there is positive momentum we plan to use in order to reach our goal.

I believe that 2012 is a year when we can make an outstanding progress on EU and NATO path. I also believe that 2014, a year that marks 100th anniversary of the beginning of WWI can be a year of region and Europe. In that year we can close the ‘Short twentieth century5’, a century which has not ended yet.(at least not in BiH and therefore not in Europe). A century which will end when Europe comes to the region and when region comes to Europe.

Ladies and gentlemen,

Today we are witnessing a significant movement for the progression of human rights and democratic freedom in the world. This movement must become an even more powerful moral force, so that even the most obstructive governments are incapable of suppressing it. This is an occasion for all of us to reaffirm our commitment to this goal. It is natural for nations, peoples, and individuals to demand respect for their rights and freedoms and to struggle to end various forms of the violation of human rights.

5 The short twentieth century, defined by Eric Hobsbawm, a British Marxist historian and author, refers to the period between the years 1914 and 1991.

3 We find that the world is becoming one society. We are being drawn together by the serious problems of overpopulation, diminishing natural resources, and an environmental crises that threatens the very basis of our existence on this planet.

Human rights, environmental protection, and great social and economic equality are all interrelated. I believe that to meet the challenges of our times, human beings will have to develop a greater sense of universal responsibility. Each of us must learn to work, not just for itself, for its own family, or its nation, but for the benefit of all humankind.6

This need for cooperation can only strengthen humankind, because it helps us to recognize that the most secure foundation for a new world order is not simply broader political and economic alliances, but each individual's genuine practice of love and compassion. The more we become interdependent, the more it is in our own interest to ensure the well-being of others. I, for one, strongly believe that individuals can make a difference in society. Every individual has a responsibility to help move our global family in the right direction, and we must assume that responsibility.

Universal responsibility is the best foundation for world peace.

Thank You!

6 “UNIVERSAL RESPONSIBILITY” By His Holiness The Dalai Lama Quoted from World Scriptures, Vol.2,pages 4 & 5.

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