A group of war veterans, former combatants of the Army of Bosnia-Herzegovina, Army of Republika Srpska, Croat Defense Council and Yugoslav National Army, has visited Memorial Centre in Potočari, Srebrenica, erected in memory of genocide victims from 1995, on 17th November 2012.
The visit was organised by the Centre for Nonviolent Action | Sarajevo – Belgrade
The Memorial centre visit included a visit to the graveyard, historical lesson, memorial room visit and watching of the documentary film about the events from 1995. Words of welcome and encouragement were directed to the group by Amra Begić from the Memorial centre and Šehida Abdurahmanović from the Movement “Mothers of enclaves Srebrenica and Žepa”.
Beside the visit to memorial centre a meeting and dialogue was organised with representatives of three war veteran associations from Srebrenica: Military war invalids, Golden Lilies (highest military honor of the Army of BH) and Patriotic league. All three representatives have welcomed the initiative of joint visit to Srebrenica by a mixed group of former enemies and agreed that dialogue is the only way to overcome wounds of the past. They have also expressed their personal readiness to visit other places of suffering in the wider region.
Centre for Nonviolent Action works with war veterans since 2002. Visits to marked and unmarked places of suffering from the last war are organised across Bosnia-Herzegovina since 2008.
Participants of these visits are former soldiers of three former warring sides from Bosnia-Herzegovina, Army of BH, Croat Defense Council, Army of Republika Srpska. Additionally, visits are also attended by former combatants of Croat Army and Yugoslav National Army. All visits are organised in cooperation or at least coordination with local war veteran associations. Decisions about places to visit are made by war veterans themselves, at meetings and workshops, organised, conducted and logistically supported by the Centre for Nonviolent Action.
The aim of the visits is paying respect to all victims, contributing to constructive dealing with the past and reconciliation.
Media reports:
http://www.radiosarajevo.ba/novost/94904/ratni-veterani-zajedno-pred-zrtvama-u-srebrenici
http://www.b92.net/info/vesti/index.php?yyyy=2012&mm=11&dd=17&nav_category=64&nav_id=661112
http://www.oslobodjenje.ba/vijesti/bih/ratni-veterani-iz-bih-srbije-i-hrvatske-posjetili-potocare