Following the 1996 elections, Alija was elected Chair of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina. In this period, he transformed from a wartime leader into a statesman tasked with carrying the burden of peace. His priority was to make the fragmented state structure functional and to heal social wounds. He believed that Bosniaks, Serbs, and Croats could live together under a shared political framework, regarding pluralism as a historical reality.
His post-war conduct and conciliatory language earned him international respect. Global media frequently referred to him as “Europe’s wise Muslim.”
Due to declining health, Alija stepped down from the Presidency in June 2000. In his writings and speeches, he continued to emphasize that Bosnia’s future must be built on justice, pluralism, and engagement with the world while preserving its identity.
When he passed away on 19 October 2003, he left behind not only a state, but a moral and intellectual legacy.
Alija Izetbegović’s heritage endures as a form of wisdom that transcended the darkness of war and as a democratic vision rooted in moral integrity.
“All my life, I fought for two things: freedom and human dignity.”