Dr. Schwartz-Shilling
February 8, 2006
Honorable Dr. Christian Schwartz-Shilling
High Representative
OHR Sarajevo
Emerika Bluma 1
71 000 Sarajevo
Bosna-Hercegovina
Dear Dr. Schwartz-Shilling:
On behalf of the Croatian Worldwide Association, congratulations on your recent appointment as High Representative to Bosna-Hercegovina and extend a warm welcome to your new responsibilities. We trust you will find this extremely important position you have just embarked upon both difficult and challenging. We truly wish you all the very best and hope we can work together to build a better and truly democratic Bosna-Hercegovina for all its citizens.
We write in regards to an article which appeared February 6, 2005 on www.index.hr and posted for your reference at the end of this letter. The article reports there are 300 indictments about to be issued against Croatians in Bosnia-Herzegovina for “war crimes” allegedly committed.
As you can imagine, if this is information is even accurate and factual, we are deeply saddened and gravely concerned for these 300 Croatian citizens.
The citizens of Bosna-Hercegovina voted to succeed from the Communist/Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia via a purely democratic means. Unfortunately, a short time later, the world witnessed the biggest atrocities were being committed since World War II and only until the U.S. brokered Dayton Peace Accords were agreed upon, did the entire bloodshed finally end in the former Yugoslavia.
These 300 indictments will not bring peace and reconciliation to a region still trying to find its place in the world. They will undermine all the hard work and effort that has gone into securing peace in the region. Instead, these indictments will bring back many horrible memories of life during war -- a bloody war of Serbian onslaught and aggression. By seeking to equalize guilt instead of placing the proper blame where it belongs on Slobodan Milosevic and his rampaging Serb marauders led by Karadzic and Mladic, these indictments will not bring much needed reconcialtion to the region. These indictments threaten the future stability of Bosna-Hercegovina and call into question the moral and legal legitimacy of the state of Bosna-Hercegovina within its current borders. In short, these indictments lay the groundwork for the resurgence of a Greater Serbia and severely threatens the long-term security and stability not only of Bosna-Herceogivna, but of the Balkans, and all of Europe. Peace and reconciliation must be the main objective and war must be avoided at all costs; however, equalizing the blame and guilt by indicting 300 Croatians is a deliberate attempt to spread blame evenly and more importantly, will not secure peace and stability in the region.
Former High Representative, Paddy Ashdown, stated on January 25, 2006, http://www.ohr.int/ohr-dept/presso/pressi/default.asp?content_id=36450
“The Dayton Agreement worked in the last ten years, but it cannot work in the next ten years: you have to change the Constitution * We should have been more sensitive towards Croats; Bosnia and Herzegovina will not be what it is in essence without Croats living in it…”
“I am very concerned about the number of Croats who have left BiH. If I am to speak on behalf of the international administration, then I can say that it was not sufficiently aware of and sensitive to the vulnerability of Croats.”
These are the words of the very individual who spent a great deal of time in Bosna-Hercegovina and openly admits the international community should have been more sensitive to the issues and needs of the Croatian people living in Bosna-Hercegovina. Thousands of Croatians have left Bosna-Hecegovina because of its current state of affairs. The Croatian population needs to feel assured they will too have equal rights and protections as do the other ethnic groups living in Bosna-Hercegovina.
Finally, we respectfully request that you please investigate this situation and do whatever you can to put an end to the issuance of these indictments. We are here to offer any assistance and look forward to working with you and welcome your thoughts regarding this important issue.
The Croatian Worldwide Association is non-profit organization and not part of any political party, faction or ideological affiliation. The CWA works to promote democratic values and principles in Croatia, Bosnia-Hercegovina and abroad.
Thank you for your attention and consideration. We wholeheartedly look forward to your response.
Warm regards,
Jackie Prkic
President
Honorable Dr. Christian Schwartz-Shilling
High Representative
OHR Sarajevo
Emerika Bluma 1
71 000 Sarajevo
Bosna-Hercegovina
Dear Dr. Schwartz-Shilling:
On behalf of the Croatian Worldwide Association, congratulations on your recent appointment as High Representative to Bosna-Hercegovina and extend a warm welcome to your new responsibilities. We trust you will find this extremely important position you have just embarked upon both difficult and challenging. We truly wish you all the very best and hope we can work together to build a better and truly democratic Bosna-Hercegovina for all its citizens.
We write in regards to an article which appeared February 6, 2005 on www.index.hr and posted for your reference at the end of this letter. The article reports there are 300 indictments about to be issued against Croatians in Bosnia-Herzegovina for “war crimes” allegedly committed.
As you can imagine, if this is information is even accurate and factual, we are deeply saddened and gravely concerned for these 300 Croatian citizens.
The citizens of Bosna-Hercegovina voted to succeed from the Communist/Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia via a purely democratic means. Unfortunately, a short time later, the world witnessed the biggest atrocities were being committed since World War II and only until the U.S. brokered Dayton Peace Accords were agreed upon, did the entire bloodshed finally end in the former Yugoslavia.
These 300 indictments will not bring peace and reconciliation to a region still trying to find its place in the world. They will undermine all the hard work and effort that has gone into securing peace in the region. Instead, these indictments will bring back many horrible memories of life during war -- a bloody war of Serbian onslaught and aggression. By seeking to equalize guilt instead of placing the proper blame where it belongs on Slobodan Milosevic and his rampaging Serb marauders led by Karadzic and Mladic, these indictments will not bring much needed reconcialtion to the region. These indictments threaten the future stability of Bosna-Hercegovina and call into question the moral and legal legitimacy of the state of Bosna-Hercegovina within its current borders. In short, these indictments lay the groundwork for the resurgence of a Greater Serbia and severely threatens the long-term security and stability not only of Bosna-Herceogivna, but of the Balkans, and all of Europe. Peace and reconciliation must be the main objective and war must be avoided at all costs; however, equalizing the blame and guilt by indicting 300 Croatians is a deliberate attempt to spread blame evenly and more importantly, will not secure peace and stability in the region.
Former High Representative, Paddy Ashdown, stated on January 25, 2006, http://www.ohr.int/ohr-dept/presso/pressi/default.asp?content_id=36450
“The Dayton Agreement worked in the last ten years, but it cannot work in the next ten years: you have to change the Constitution * We should have been more sensitive towards Croats; Bosnia and Herzegovina will not be what it is in essence without Croats living in it…”
“I am very concerned about the number of Croats who have left BiH. If I am to speak on behalf of the international administration, then I can say that it was not sufficiently aware of and sensitive to the vulnerability of Croats.”
These are the words of the very individual who spent a great deal of time in Bosna-Hercegovina and openly admits the international community should have been more sensitive to the issues and needs of the Croatian people living in Bosna-Hercegovina. Thousands of Croatians have left Bosna-Hecegovina because of its current state of affairs. The Croatian population needs to feel assured they will too have equal rights and protections as do the other ethnic groups living in Bosna-Hercegovina.
Finally, we respectfully request that you please investigate this situation and do whatever you can to put an end to the issuance of these indictments. We are here to offer any assistance and look forward to working with you and welcome your thoughts regarding this important issue.
The Croatian Worldwide Association is non-profit organization and not part of any political party, faction or ideological affiliation. The CWA works to promote democratic values and principles in Croatia, Bosnia-Hercegovina and abroad.
Thank you for your attention and consideration. We wholeheartedly look forward to your response.
Warm regards,
Jackie Prkic
President