Conference
“An Idea Whose Time Has Come: Truth and Reconciliation Commission
in Bosnia and Herzegovina”
Holiday Inn Hotel, Sarajevo
May 12, 2001
The conference was jointly organized by the Association “Truth and Reconciliation”
and Konrad Adenauer Stiftung - Sarajevo Office, which covered all the costs
of the conference.
The event took place at Holiday Inn hotel in Sarajevo with 70 invited
participants, including highest government officials, civil and religious
organizations, international community officials present in BH as well
as representatives of the Hague Tribunal.
Welcome speakers at the conference on May 12 included Mr. Jozo Krizanovic
on behalf of the BH Presidency, Mr. Mathias Sonn, OHR High Representative
Deputy, Mr. Jacques Paul Klein of UN, Mr. Sead Avdic and Mr. Kresimir Zubak.
Panel discussions that followed were concentrated around the following
topics:
-
Presentation of the idea and draft law on the Truth and Reconciliation
Commission (Jakob FINCI)
-
TRC in relation to DPA and ICTY (Judge Claude JORDA, Mr. Jacques Paul KLEIN,
Mr. Vehid SEHIC)
-
TRC in regional context (Mr. Alex BORAINE, Mr. Zoran PAJIC)
-
TRC and the role of media (Mr. Veran MATIC. Mr. Ivan LOVRENOVIC)
-
Closing session (Mr. Jakob FINCI)
Discussions on the above topics were in tolerant tones (if we disregard
occasional flashes related to (un)justified accusations for (un)attendance
of the conference). Unanimous and resounding support to the idea of establishing
the Truth and Reconciliation Commission was delivered by all participants.
The following was adopted as the conference conclusions:
-
The time for establishment of the TRC in BH has come - The moment is right
to propose adoption of the law (unanimously supported by BH Government,
international community and ICTY)
-
The Commission must act complementary to the ICTY mandate; mandates of
both organizations must be respected
-
No TRC activity will be in conflict to the ICTY mandate
-
The TRC must be limited in duration of its mandate (30 months). Implementation
of recommendations must be a permanent obligation of the society
-
BH is not an island and the TRC must cooperate and be in contact with similar
organizations in the region
-
The role of media is indispensable in the process of reconciliation
-
It was important and right to start the initiative; an important step forward
for better future of BH has been made
