Members of URI Europe, including Elisabeth Lheure (URI GC,URI Europe), Schech BASHIR (URI GC, URI Europe), Adnan Hadzic (activist and leader from Mostar), Marianne Horling (URI GC, URI Europe), lower row: Karimah K. Stauch (URI Europe Coordinator) and Patrick Hanjoul (URI Europe President) stand before the reconstructed Stari Most (Old Bridge) in Mostar, Bosnia-Herzegovina. The original Stari Most was commissioned in 1557 by Suleiman the Magnificent.
About 40 participants from Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as other places in Europe -- including the Republica Srpska, France, Serbia and Slovenia, Germany, Belgium, Spain and the UK -- experienced an inspiring and interesting day in the light of multreligious and multiethnic understanding.
Karimah Stauch, URI’s Regional Coordinator for Europe, had taken the initiative in order to promote URI’s development in the Balkans.
“After the ill-fated war of 1992-1995, there is a big potential for our work to create peace, not only on paper but also in the hearts of human beings,” Karimah said.
Hosts and leaders in Sarajevo included Vjekoslav Saje and his wife Azra, URI friends and activists for many years. About 40 young people from various countries of the region and beyond came together for the seminar. They belonged to many different religions: Serbian-Orthodox, Catholic, Jewish, Muslim.
They included teachers, social workers, media professionals and members of associations which are active in social and peace policies. Two recently-elected youth ambassadors also participated as well as an active interfaith activist from France belonging to the renowned interfaith organization CIEUX.
The workshop was led by Deepak Naik, who had developed its programme in cooperation with Vjeko, Karimah and other board members. Deepak led the seminar with much skill and commitment.
It clicked with participants. All were actively engaged with joy, highly motivated and prepared to found new interfaith Cooperation Circles.
