A refugee from Sarajevo became mayor in Sweden: She escaped from war, and she always proudly emphasized her origins (PHOTO)

Dzenita Abaza went through a thorny path in a past 20 years, from a refugee from Sarajevo to the mayor of Swedish Kalmar, writes slobodnadalmacija.hr.

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The start of the war caught 29 year-old in Sarajevo.

Unbearable, inhuman conditions of life in the cite under siege forced her to seek rescue on Koncula. The thought that she will one day end up in Sweden never crossed her mind.

The Swedish language is hard 

- I really never thought that this country would become my home. Sweden is a country of Volvo for me, my favorite group ABBA and the actress Ingrid Bergman. It was actually just one far away country in the North, cold and windy - she said.

- Vela Luka was the one that provided me with a shelter when i needed it the most. I think that staying in that beautiful place in 1992 till 1993 kept me sane because i was surrounded with dear and lovely people. I spent my summer in Vela Luka 11 years before the war, in the same hotel i lived for one year when i became a refugee.

Foto: Foter/Flickr/Gustav Gullberg

However, i decided i had to move on because i didn't see my future in Sarajevo, and many European states started closing borders for refugees. So, i went to Sweden in almost the last moment which provided good conditions to refugees, and it has pretty high standards - she said.

At the beginning, she admits that it wasn't easy at all a totally new environment - writes slobodnadalmacija.hr.

- Integration took time. Swedish is a very hard language, and the knowledge of language is the key for quick and good integration. I can't say that it was easy, but i was tired, because i had no alternative. The war in Sarajevo was still taking place and we couldn't count on the return there - Dzenita remembers.

Things started coming into their place, little by little. She got the job in the city administration. She soon went to political waters, her choice - Social democracy.

- I was at the head of the project and within it i organized a travel to Bosnia and Herzegovina and the officials of the entire region in 1999. The goal was to determine the possibility of refugees returning.

After the trip i got an offer of mayor of Kalmar at the time to join the social democratic party. One year later i was at the election list for city parliament and i became a member of the city administration - writes Abaza.

Three children and 160 kilometers to work every day

Some will say that it wasn't such a lightning political career in her case, writes slobodnadalmacija.hr

- At the same time i got a job in one large state institution. The job was really demanding because i traveled every day for 6 years 160 kilometers to work, and from work home. I was simultaneously a wife and a mother of three.

Family was always priority for me, so politics was something like a hobby for me at the start and a part of social life. It was interesting being a part of such democratic system, being someone who makes important decisions in development of the city and the region. On the next elections i was on the list for the state parliament - Dzenita describes her first political experiences.

Since 2010 she has run one of the departments in the city administration, and after four years she has been offered to run for mayor. It is interesting that Kalmar, like other cities of this size in Sweden, has two mayors.

- My colleagues recognized my qualities and were pleased with my work, so i was offered to run for mayor at the end of 2013 together with my colleague who was already on his third mandate. I also had an opponent, but i got the majority of votes at the annual assembly of the Social Democrats.

After winning the 2014 elections, i became responsible for social issues, education, labor market and integration issues, while my colleague is leading a city development and cooperation with entrepreneurs. Cooperation is perfect because we have clearly defined departments and responsibilities. 

As far as my origin is concerned, it was never a burden to me. I always proudly emphasized it. In fact, it's my experience and my life's course, and being a bit different from my Swedish colleagues which helped me become what i am today - said the mayor.

Foto: Profimedia/Alamy

Search for workforce

- Many things have changed since i came here, but one thing is always the same: Sweden has a very humane immigration policy and i am proud on our government giving shelter to the people. However, it all must be in the tact and harmony with the labor market. Sweden needs qualified workforce like never before and it will be a great work integrating refugees into Swedish society - said Dzenita.

Sarajevo? Finished story 

Dzetita Abaza tied her future to the Sweden, and there is a clear answer to the question about possible return to Bosnia and Herzegovina.

- No. We have no ambitions to return to Bosnia and Herzegovina. We adapted here in all fields, children are all grown up and they are making their own choices. Their choice is Sweden, and we will always be somewhere close to support and to encourage them. This is where the circle closes.

I wen't from Sarajevo because of their future, we made this choice because of better conditions for their schooling. Now we are in the country that offered us shelter when we needed it the most and our gratitude has no limits - she said.

(Telegraf.co.uk)