Normalization of Relationships in the Region – a Common Goal
The civil sector did much more on the establishment of new relations in the region, and their normalization, than the states of the Dayton Triangle themselves. It made an important step forward towards understanding, renewed trust, and opened the doors to the future for the region. These points were reinforced by the 10th Session of the Igman Initiative held in Belgrade last several days.
The three presidents signed a joint statement, “A Tripartite View on the Present and the Past”, which lists the open issues in the relationships of the three countries and proposes solutions for these problems. The mutual normalization and improvement of relations is the common goal of all three countries. The other key points of the joint statement include the full cooperation with the Hague Tribunal, objective position on the past, protection of national minorities’ rights, refugee return, free travel without visa regimes, negotiations on disputed matters and elimination of hatred, mistrust and other obstacles on the road to the EU, as well as continued cooperation of all three countries with the NGO sector. The Igman Initiative strongly condemned the crime in Srebrenica of July 1995. In the statement issued in Belgrade, the Initiative demanded “that perpetrators, instigators and authors of the criminal idea are held responsible and brought to justice”. "Srebrenica already is a symbol of extreme and terrible crime, and should serve as a warning to future generations”, says the statement. The Igman Initiative proposed to B&H, Croatia and SCG to declare July 11 the Day of Remembrance of all innocent victims of the wars in former Yugoslavia. The Belgrade session emphasized the importance of the activities of the civil society organizations directed at the issue of facing the past, reconciliation and mutual cooperation of the countries in the region. Aleksandar Popov, director of Novi Sad-based Centre for Regionalism, one of the founders of the Initiative, said that the Heads-of-State of Croatia, B&H and SCG were presented with drafts of eight bilateral agreements to be signed by the three countries. These agreements, among other issues, refer to the issues of mutual ratification of university diplomas, employment and crisis and natural catastrophe reaction and management. Popov also announced that, on July 6, a Network and Association of Multiethnic Cities of SEE will established in Zagreb, which should include 60 cities and townships from the region, sponsored by the Stability Pact for the SEE. "The programme for cooperation between the cities in the region started three years ago, when cooperation was established between Tuzla, Osijek and Novi Sad. The success of that programme initiated other cooperation programmes between other cities and townships", said Popov and added that the whole programme is based on partner relations between local authorities and NGOs. The next session of the Igman Initiative is planned to take place in Sarajevo, under the activities for the marking of the 10th Anniversary of the Dayton Agreement. The next session will also invite the presidents of the three countries to participate in the event. |
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