Washington, D.C. – On December 4, 2025, the Maryland Bosnia and Herzegovina Exchange Council (MBHEC) marked its 2nd anniversary and the 22nd anniversary of the State Partnership Program between Maryland and Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The program brought together distinguished guests, diplomats, experts, and community members. Andrea Pozderac served as Master of Ceremonies, welcoming attendees and opening the evening with the national anthems of the United States of America and Bosnia and Herzegovina, performed by Uma Čizmić.
Michael Lore, Deputy Secretary of State of Maryland, opened the ceremony by highlighting the strength of the longstanding military and civic cooperation between Maryland and Bosnia and Herzegovina. He also emphasized the multicultural and multi-religious diversity shared by both Maryland and Bosnia and Herzegovina as a key source of connection between the two communities, and thanked MBHEC for its role in fostering university linkages, film festival collaborations, and business and cultural programs.
Amela Sudžuka-Ćerimagić, Deputy Chief of Mission at the Embassy of Bosnia and Herzegovina in Washington, D.C., underscored the importance of sustaining and deepening these ties across sectors, noting the cultural, economic, and sister-city cooperation initiatives launched since MBHEC’s founding. She expressed pride in the Maryland–Bosnia and Herzegovina partnership, both military and civic, and thanked the State of Maryland for 22 years of support through the State Partnership Program and for its growing engagement in civic cooperation over the past two years through MBHEC.
LTC Zoran Jović, Assistant Defense Attaché of Bosnia and Herzegovina in Washington, D.C. and Liaison Officer with the State of Maryland, highlighted the significance of the State Partnership Program between the Maryland National Guard and the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina, noting that the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina view the Maryland National Guard as an “older brother.” and thanked them for everything they have done for Bosnian and Herzegovinian Armed Forces over the years. Building on this foundation of military cooperation, he commended MBHEC’s role in advancing the civilian dimension of the partnership.
Azra Kačapor Nurkić, PhD, CEO of the Institute for Development Impact (I4DI) and Co-Founder of MBHEC, reflected briefly on MBHEC’s growth since its inception and outlined the next chapter: deeper higher education exchanges, stronger city-to-city collaboration, and more regular cultural partnerships and opportunities for youth and professionals to engage. She invited individuals and organizations who believe in the future of the Maryland–Bosnia and Herzegovina relationship to partner with MBHEC through their time, expertise, networks, and financial support.
The program also featured a musical performance of two classic Bosnian sevdalinkas, Jutros mi je ruža procvjetala and Tebi majko misli lete, performed by Karmela Svalina.
The evening concluded with the announcement that MBHEC will host its inaugural gala in February 2026, positioning this anniversary celebration as the beginning of a new, more expansive phase of MBHEC’s work.
