In this place, a Serb is building a mosque, and a Muslim is building a church: Incredible story of two villages and two states

The locals of Medjurecje and Sastavac belong to different countries and nations, but that doesn't prevent them to live in harmony

On the border of two states, so intertwined that it passes through Serbian Sastavak and neighboring Bosnian village Medjurecje four times. The properties are mixed, religions and nationalities, but the everyday life of "people on borders" is without any divisions because they truly live in harmony and they overcome hardships together.

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While they are creating connecting threads of their own survival on the ruins of their previous lives and wars, the only border that is recognized here is the one between humane and inhumane people. And that is how the mosque was recently restored in Medjurecje.

- I am especially happy that Christians and Muslims are united and that they did this, you know who is humane and who is not - Elvedina Kadic, who lives in the Netherlands said.

Hajro Gibanica from Medjurecje said that it is better to build together.

- It is hard to imagine a Serb coming to work on a mosque and a Muslim on a church. And it happened! They are showing that it is better to build together, and not individually - Gibanica mentions.

Vidoje Novakovic from Sastavak said that they are friends and neighbors with Muslims.

- Whenever something is needed, we are here to help each other, about the building of the roads, mosque, and I participated as well, as much as I could - Novakovic explains. 

And the two neighboring municipalities, where these villages belong to, Priboj in Serbia and Rudjan in Bosnia in Herzegovina, are often doing something together - from the water supply to the bridges, health care, roads...

- There isn't a problem that came without both municipalities reaching out and trying to help - the president of municipality Priboj Lazar Rvovic said.

The president of the municipality Rudo from Republika Srpska Ratko Rajak said that we should draw a useful lesson from an unfortunate past.

- I am sure that most of the people want to see just a man in another person, no matter the nation, or religion - Rajak mentions.

And it is no surprise that  Hajkois driving a priest when he goes to give holy water over the village. Bible and Quran are equally respected and they live with one foot in their and with other foot in the neighboring country.

- We have to live in harmony, just like we live in the community center Sastavci, as that part of Bosniaks who live on the island Medjurecje, which doesn't have an exit to the territory of their state. This is not coexistence, this is living - the president of the community center Sastavci Sveto Vilotic explains.

Borders and ramps are less noticeable in this kind of life, there are everyday challenges and friends who are willing to help.

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(Telegraf.co.uk / RTS / GZS / J.Bozovic)