CIAO DATE: 04/04

ECMI Civil Society Project in Bosnia and Herzegovina: Ensuring Effective Implementation of Annex 8 through the Establishment of a Cultural Heritage Association, Implementation Workshop 1

Introduction

The ECMI Civil Society Project in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) began its effort on the role of Annex 8 legislation and implementation in autumn 2001 in order to provide a forum for experts to discuss an issue that had been largely neglected since the signing of the General Framework Agreement for Peace (GFAP, or the Dayton Peace Agreement) in 1995. Annex 8 of the GFAP established a Commission to Preserve National Monuments in the wake of the destruction that devastated the cultural heritage of BiH during the war 1992-1995. Through conversations with experts in BiH and from throughout the region, ECMI recognized the potential that this Annex could have on peace-building and reconciliation in BiH.

Beginning in December 2001, ECMI has organized and facilitated four workshops on the topic, providing a forum for experts and concerned citizens to come together to discuss this important issue. At the first two workshops held in December 2001 (in Sarajevo) and April 2002 (in Banja Luka), the participants were given the space to express their general opinions, ideas, concerns, and suggestion. The June workshop (in Mostar) provided a forum for the development of concrete actions and recommendations, as the participants were encouraged to build on the ideas expressed in the first two sessions to develop an operational action plan. The fourth workshop in October 2002 (in Sarajevo) represents the first part of the implementation phase of the project, as words are turned into action. This report details the proceedings and outcomes of this initial implementation meeting of 18 interested experts from throughout BiH.

This ongoing effort contributes to ECMI’s broader interests in supporting the development of civil society and independent institutions in BiH. It also provides an opportunity to demonstrate that an effort can evolve from a “discussion forum” initiated by outside actors, to an action forum owned and driven by the citizens of BiH. The extent to which such a transition is successful, in this or other similar endeavours, will reflect the long-term sustainability of civil society in BiH.

Full text (PDF format, 21 pages, 73 KB)