From Deseret News archives:
Bosnia ambassador offers Salt Lake condolences
Mayor, police chief join in seeking to build understanding
"We lost 200,000 in Bosnia," said Bisera Turkovic. "If anyone can understand, then Bosnians can and should understand the pain."
Turkovic arrived from Washington, D.C., Thursday to offer her condolences and show support for Utah's Bosnian community. She had tentative plans to meet the family of the gunman, 18-year-old Sulejman Talovic.
At a meeting with Salt Lake Mayor Rocky Anderson, Salt Lake Police Chief Chris Burbank and a handful of members of the Bosnian community Thursday, Turkovic said that in Bosnia, "People are shocked, people are saddened. They cannot believe someone of Bosnian origin would do something like that, especially not in this country, because we owe this country much."
The gathering at the Bosna restaurant in South Salt Lake was aimed at building understanding in the aftermath of the shooting that left six people dead, including Talovic.
"Everybody is in shock," said Sulejman Omerovic of West Valley City. "Even back home in Bosnia, everybody is in shock."
Omerovic and others originally from Bosnia used the gathering as a community forum.
"I say, 'No, I am not,"' Pasic said. "That's the message ... (I) believe 99 percent of us feel the same.... We left to make a new home, and we did," she said. "Thank you, thank you, Utah and Salt Lake, for giving us the opportunity."
When it was discovered that Talovic was a Bosnian Muslim, the shooting sparked talk of terrorism on blogs and the Internet. Police have yet to establish any motive.
Slavoljub Josipovic, a member of the Bosnian Association, said he hoped the meeting would help people understand that "we are all different. You cannot put all people in one basket."
Turkovic said there's no evidence to suggest there would be any retribution against the Bosnian community and said no enhanced security measures had been taken at the embassy or consulates.
"People in the United States are reasonable they understand this is the act of a single person," she said.
Anderson and Burbank had harsh words for those who jumped to conclusions about motivation. Burbank said the city has received "a lot of very hateful e-mail," but he hasn't heard of any concrete threats or violence. There has also not been any departmental reaction, Burbank added.
"I will not allow my officers to profile individuals because of race," he said. "We are not profiling a community because of their race."
Comments
- VA promises response to war illness 8:17 a.m.
- Military sees increase in wounded 8:16 a.m.
- Who knew Hasan's radical contacts 8:13 a.m.
- Bomb kills 9 officers in Pakistan 8:13 a.m.
- Lights back in Brazil after outage 8:11 a.m.
- Missing US soldier's body found 8:10 a.m.
- Grouchy public sticking with Obama 8:09 a.m.
- Woods faces tricky Aussie Masters 8:08 a.m.
- Oil up to near $80 on weak dollar 8:06 a.m.
- Stocks open higher as dollar slides 8:04 a.m.
- Pratt pleads not guilty to sex charges
- Utah group finds homes for orphans
- SLC council OKs gay rights policies
- Hair-pulling raises more questions
- Y. tight ends talented tandem
- Wyoming writer amazed by BYU
- Utes get extra motivation
- Jazz blow big lead, hang on
- Utah Jazz have a problem at point
- BYU soccer incident still popular
- House passes health care bill
266 - TCU showdown has big implications
188 - Lobo suspended
185 - Senators want food tax restored
155 - Cougars crush hapless Cowboys
155 - Utah Jazz fall apart against Kings
131 - TCU 4th in AP poll; U. 16th, Y. 22nd
119 - No 'backlash' for pioneers, gays analogy
105 - S.L. vote pending on gay protections
104 - Utes pound winless Lobos
89
Applebee's Neighborhood Grill & Bar restaurants nationwide will honor...
Meghan McCain, the daughter of former presidential candidate John...
In addition to President Reagan, we must always acknowledge the important...
The church is making steps to show it supports outreach programs to assist...
Never die,they just fade away!! GENERAL DOUGLASS MCARTHUR...
Linguist: The ability to adopt. That ability is part of allowing gay...
I can't believe you're whining about getting to play another game after you...
My Father was a Marine during WWII, and he spoke with gratitude of these men...
But when Mr. Lowrey condemns Hannity, Beck and Limbaugh with phrases like...
He can hit harder than a lot of linebackers.
"Without successful people innovating, inventing and taking huge risks with...
Amazing The Gays plead, beg, steal, trashspit, dismantle and burn for a...




You can be the first to comment on this story.