THE BIRD OF PEACE

« The Bird of Peace » is now in The Hague!

On June 19, 2025, we attended the inauguration of Mirza Moric’s Bird of Peace in The Hague, along with Mayor Yan Van Zanen, Ambassador of Bosnia and Herzegovina Almir Sahovic, and many other ambassadors and citizens.

It was a historic moment in this city of peace and justice. The Bird of Peace is like a diamond, a symbol of peace for humanity.

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Le 19 juin 2025 nous avons assisté à l’inauguration de L’Oiseau de la Paix de Mirza MORIĆ à la Haye, en compagnie de M. le maire de La Haye Yan VAN ZANEN, M. l’ambassadeur de Bosnie-Herzégovine Almir ŠAHOVIĆ, et de nombreux autres ambassadeurs et citoyens.

Ce fut un moment historique, dans cette ville de la paix et de la justice. L’Oiseau de la Paix est comme un diamant, symbole de paix pour l’humanité.

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Speech by Jan van Zanen
 
« Excellencies, dear attendees, Srebrenica is never far away, especially not in The Hague.
 
That was confirmed last month. On June 19, I was able to contribute to the unveiling of the artwork ‘Bird of Peace’, which can be seen in front of the town hall until September 21, the International Day of Peace. The Bosnian-French artist Mirza Morié has dedicated this sculpture to war victims worldwide.
 
His Excellency Mr. Almir Sahovié, ambassador of Bosnia and Herzegovina, ensured that the artwork came to The Hague. A few weeks earlier I was present at a short ceremony of the foundation National Monument Srebrenica Genocide ’95.
 
On the square in front of the town hall, a start was made with the symbolic breaking of natural stone, originating from Bosnia and Herzegovina.
 
The same stone of which the tombstones are made in Potocari. Together with others I was allowed to chop off a piece of stone. The stones are incorporated into the place marking for the future monument. Earlier today, we unveiled this place mark at the former Yugoslavia tribunal. 8372 stones symbolize 8372 victims. People like Ramo Osmanovic. Ramo was forced by the army of the Serbian Republic to recall his son Nermin, who had hidden with others in the forest.
 
The film footage of this, made as propaganda to make the world believe that nothing would happen to the men, go through marrow and bone. Both Ramo and Nermin were later found in a mass grave. In Sarajevo, a statue of the calling Ramo has been commemorating their fate and that of the more than eight thousand victims of the Srebrenica genocide for ten years.
 
The Srebrenica genocide is our shared past. And commemorating it is something of national importance. That is precisely why the municipality of The Hague thinks it is important that a dignified, national monument will be built here that commemorates the victims of Srebrenica. In addition, the municipality is trying to draw attention to the Srebrenica genocide in other ways. For example, by supporting the annual Eastern Neighbours Film Festival, with films from Eastern and Southeastern Europe, including Bosnia and Herzegovina. A few years ago, the film A’raf, which was the subject of the Srebrenica genocide, was shown there.
 
Yes, Srebrenica is never far away. Especially not in The Hague. Let the memory of the victims of the Srebrenica genocide continue to encourage us to always commit ourselves to peace, freedom and human rights. Worldwide and close to home. »
 

The Hague is home to the Dutch government and many international organizations, including the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and the International Criminal Court (ICC). The city is also known as the “International City of Peace and Justice”.

The Bird of Peace is now exhibited in front of the Town Hall, of The Hague, a city that stands for the principles peace and justice.

The inauguration took place on June 19th, 2025, in front of the Town Hall, in the presence of Mr Jan van Zanen, Mayor of The Hague, Mr. Almir Šahović, Ambassador of Bosnia-Herzegovina in the Netherlands,  Mr. Mirza Moric, the Bosnian Artist Sculptor, and several Ambassadors of various countries.

Mirza Moric, is a Bosnian born artist currently living in Paris, France. Throughout his entire life Mirza has been using his art to defend and promote peace; peace for his native war-wounded country of Bosnia, as well as peace for the entire World.