24 June 2008 - The distinguished Israeli artist and outstanding humanist Dan Reisinger payed a visit to the International Institute for Middle East and Balkan Studies IFIMES. He was received by the Directors Bakhtyar Aljaf and Zijad Bećirović as well as by Janez Škrabec, member of the Council of the Institute. The respected guest was briefed about the activities of the Institute and its members as well as with the human rights situation in Slovenia and in the Balkans, emphasising, that antisemitism, xenophobia and discrimination are on the rise in the Europe as a whole.
Reisinger, being a Holocaust survivor himself, was particularly interested in the recent appeareance of antisemitism, which was demonstrated by the Prime Minister of Bosnia and Herzegovina Nikola Špirić (Alliance of Independent Socialdemocrats – SNSD). Špirić described in public his foreign minister Alkalaj as “a minister needed by nobody”, pointing to the fact that Minister Alkalaj belongs to the minority that is not a constituent one and consequently does not deserve appeareance in political life of BiH. With this statement Špirić targeted the Jewish origin of the foreign minister and started the campaign against him. He demanded from the BiH Parliament to dismiss foreign minister Sven Alkalaj from his position, what was rejected by the deputies. Contrary to democratic political culture, Špirić did not offer his resignation as a Prime Minister after his proposal was rejected by the Parliament.
Mr. Špirić is a member of SNDS, which is chaired by Milorad Dodik, the current Prime Minister of Republika Srpska, who did not react to the antisemitist outburst of his exposed Party member. During his conversation with minister Alkalaj, Reisinger was informed from the first hand with the mentioned case of antisemitism. The issue of misuse of Holocaust (and the martyrdom of the Jewish people as well) by various politicians was also touched upon during the discussion, pointing out the case of Milorad Dodik, who compared Holocaust with the tragedy of Serb nation, having no valid argumentation for such comparison. At the same time, the highly positive example of the Croat President Stipe Mesić was pointed out. President Mesić, a proven antifascist, who fights against all forms of discrimination, was himself also a victim of Milorad Dodik, who tried to shut up in public the most prominent head of state in the region for his clear antifascist position, and this even more ridicolous – in his own country, Croatia.
The IFIMES Board awarded Reisinger with “A Friend of IFIMES” special award, for his outstanding and longyear support. Reisinger accepted the prize with gratitude and extended to the Board the invitation to visit Israel in September 2008, what was accepted with pleasure.
Dan Reisinger was born in Kanjiža, Vojvodina, Serbia, in 1934. During his successful and long artistic career he exhibited in many world capitals and has received numerous awards as well. He designed many symbols of the State Israel.
Ljubljana, June 24, 2008