Peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Peace in the Europe
Institute for the Research of Genocide Canada
Published: January 31, 2011
OPEN APPEAL – ONE HUNDRED SIGNATORIES Download: Intellectuals from Bosnia and Herzegovina – university professors, scientists, authors and artists, residing both in BiH and abroad
THE DECLARATION OF THE REPUBLIC OF BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA Download: The Declaration of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina
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On behalf of one hundred university professors from Bosnia and Herzegovina, doctors of sciences and arts, authors and artists, residing both in Bosnia and Herzegovina and abroad, affiliated with Bosnia’s public institutions or acting independently, we would like to present to you and other leading European and American statesmen, representatives of the NATO Alliance, permanent members of the UN Security Council, US and EU institutions, Council of Europe, OSCE, OIC and BRIC, an “Open Appeal by Bosnian Intellectuals”, who would like to appeal to you to do everything in your power to facilitate a rapid re-establishment of a unified, multiethnic, functional, sustainable, prosperous European state of Bosnia and Herzegovina, a democratic state with equal rights for all its citizens and peoples.
Despite our awareness that the peace and future of Bosnia and Herzegovina must be the result of efforts by its domestic powers, we are very much convinced that the political situation in the country, and the political composition that has resulted from the recent elections (held 3 October 2021) are not such that they could result in any vital decisions that would change our current undemocratic and imposed constitution, without a significant intervention by the international community.
We also deeply believe that only a rapid renewal of a unified, multiethnic and functional state of Bosnia and Herzegovina by means of radical constitutional change and a de-radicalization of political structures, as was done with the de-Nazifying of Germany after World War Two, can lead to EU and NATO, to the lasting peace in this region, and to the prosperity of its citizens.
The basic call of the Appeal is to rapidly the unified, multiethnic and functional state of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the welfare of which was greatly degraded in the war and post-war period, while its democratic potentials have, regardless of the existence of free elections, been completely marginalized. In its non-functional and insufficiently democratic state, saddled with heavy poignant corruption and nationalism at all levels and in all areas, Bosnia and Herzegovina is a trouble zone in the heart of Europe in the post Dayton-Paris era. The intellectuals – and Bosnia’s patriots - are ashamed of the state of their country, but are completely powerless, having been ostracized from all the levels of decision-making in the country. Further proof of this are the amounts that are currently allocated to science, which, according to some estimates, are 10 times smaller than they were before the war.
If Bosnia and Herzegovina were to be reestablished as a functional multiethnic and democratic European state, with its rich natural resources, intellectual potential, highly developed educational institutions and an already established industrial culture, it could make rapid progress in the European family and the NATO as its guarantee of peace, which would bring prosperity to its citizens. For that reason, the country needs an entirely new, European constitution, radically different from its Dayton counterpart. The “Open Appeal” has proposed the basic principles of such a modern, humane and democratic Constitution to suit a multinational democratic state as is Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The Initiators of the “Open Appeal” will release and promote the “Open Appeal” at an international press conference in Sarajevo, and will then send it to many of the world statesmen and of the renowned friends of Bosnia and Herzegovina abroad, as well as all local state agencies of influence.
Professor Emir Ramic
President of the Congress of North American Bosniaks, Canadian Branch
Director of the Institute for Research of Genocide Canada
[email protected]
OPEN APPEAL
By one hundred signatories from Bosnia and Herzegovina – university professors, scientists, authors and artists, residing both in BiH and abroad, as well as six non-party civil society organizations
PRESS RELEASE
In January 2011, a delegation representing the Initiators of the “Open Appeal” was hosted by the NATO Headquarters in Sarajevo. The aim of their visit was to deliver letters addressed to the highest officials of the NATO Headquarters in Brussels and the NATO Joint Army Command in Naples, with the attached “Open Appeal”. NATO Commander U.S. Army Brigadier General David B. Enyeart was happy to accept the documents and forward them to the addresses specified in the Appeal.
The Initiators hosted by NATO included:
- Professor Muris Osmanagić, PhD
- Academician Professor Vladimir Premec, PhD
- Academician Professor Dejan Milošević, PhD
Brigadier General Enyeart specially pointed out that he “strongly welcomes the civil responsibility demonstrated in the Appeal.” The delegation thanked the General for his warm welcome and such encouraging support.
The basic call of the Appeal is to rapidly the unified, multiethnic and functional state of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the welfare of which was greatly degraded in the war and post-war period, while its democratic potentials have, regardless of the existence of free elections, been completely marginalized. In its non-functional and insufficiently democratic state, saddled with heavy poignant corruption and nationalism at all levels and in all areas, Bosnia and Herzegovina is a trouble zone in the heart of Europe in the post Dayton-Paris era. The intellectuals – and Bosnia’s patriots - are ashamed of the state of their country, but are completely powerless, having been ostracized from all the levels of decision-making in the country. Further proof of this are the amounts that are currently allocated to science, which, according to some estimates, are 10 times smaller than they were before the war.
If Bosnia and Herzegovina were to be reestablished as a functional multiethnic and democratic European state, with its rich natural resources, intellectual potential, highly developed educational institutions and an already established industrial culture, it could make rapid progress in the European family and the NATO as its guarantee of peace, which would bring prosperity to its citizens. For that reason, the country needs an entirely new, European constitution, radically different from its Dayton counterpart. The “Open Appeal” has proposed the basic principles of such a modern, humane and democratic Constitution to suit a multinational democratic state as is Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The Initiators of the “Open Appeal” will release and promote the “Open Appeal” at an international press conference in Sarajevo, and will then send it to many of the world statesmen and of the renowned friends of Bosnia and Herzegovina abroad, as well as all local state agencies of influence.
Open Appeal
One hundred intellectuals from Bosnia and Herzegovina – university professors, scientists, authors and artists, residing both in BiH and abroad, as well a six non party civil society organizations
Peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Peace in the Europe
Introducing a vastly important incorporation of the Bosnian and Herzegovinian Diaspora (organizations and individuals) in the process of realization and implementation of the underlining position in one of the most important documents for a better future of Bosnia and Herzegovina, an appeal from the Bosnian and Herzegovinian intellectuals- university professors, students, authors and artists from within the country and the Diaspora. The main points of this appeal are to create a speedy revival of a multiethnic, functional, just and prosperous European democratic Bosnia and Herzegovina. That being said, the initiators- Signatories of the appeal state the following:
The Mandate:
Nominating Professor Emir Ramic, Director of the Institute for Research of Genocide- Canada
The mandate issued is for:
1. Coordination of organizations in Bosnian and Herzegovinian Diaspora in regards to the Appeal.
2. The view of the Appeal’s guidelines and its acceptance from member organizations stated under point (1).
3. A mandatory representation of the appeal, in the name of hundreds of intellectuals from Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Diaspora and six non party organizations – civilian society working with legitimate government in states where Bosnian and Herzegovinian Diaspora exists.
4. Presentation of the appeal with sources to inform Bosnian and Herzegovinian descendants in the Diaspora.
5. Presenting an appeal with sources that informs organizations in other countries run by the Bosnian and Herzegovinian Diaspora.
In sum of the mandate and in the promotion of the appeal it is necessary to highlight that the main cause of tension and decay in Bosnia and Herzegovina is the Dayton agreement. With this agreement a divide of a country based on nationalism occurred and endangered a thousand year, multiethnic and multicultural, united life of all citizens, nations and national minorities. At the same time quasi constitutional mechanisms were created for internal development of the entities instead of focusing on reintegration; which is necessary for maintaining peace in this region. For that reason, there is no exit strategy for the ruling nationalist powers even though the current political situation in the country is decaying.
The solution lays in the new constitution that aims at a renewal of a united, multiethnic and functional state which is more prone to promoting peace in comparison to the Dayton agreement. With a new constitution the country will be established under modern European standards that promote multinational states and protect human rights.
For this modern constitution to occur new laws must be implemented and a formation of a constitutional convention is necessary. It is important to create this new constitution to include representatives of the democratic society since the current political situation is on the margin of failure.
In the case of the long nationalist monopoly in the government and the media for all three sides (Bosniaks, Serbs and Croats) free elections are used and abused only for advancement of nationalist elites in the government and not for the good of the citizens. In case of a dispute, without delay the international arbitration, made up of neutral international experts are expected to make the right decisions, which are picked by the Board of Directors of PIC.
Representative of the Mandate, Professor Emir Ramic will inform initiators of the Appeal (IA-14) if necessary, in Sarajevo depending on the results.
On behalf of the initiators of Appeal (IA-14):
Professor Muris Osmanagić, PhD, Recipient of the greatest award for science in the Former Yugoslavia – the AVNOJ Award for 1982
Academician Professor Vladimir Premec, PhD, Secretary, Department of Humanistic Studies, Academy of Sciences and Arts of BiH, Faculty of Philosophy, University of Sarajevo, BiH
Academician Dejan Milošević, Corresponding member of the Academy of Science and Arts of BiH (ANUBiH), researcher in atomic processes in atophysics, and Professor, Faculty of Natural Science, University of Sarajevo
Academician Professor Juraj Martinović, PhD, Member, ANUBiH
(For further communication, please contact Professor Muris Osmanagić, at: e-mail: [email protected], tel: 033 222 697, address: SABNOR, Maršala Tita 9a, 71000 Sarajevo, BiH)
Bosnia and Herzegovina, Sarajevo – Canada, Hamilton, February 01, 2011.
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