Citizens lead regional co-operation on tolerance
The "Igman Initiative"
The courageous movement eventually led to the birth of the "Igman Initiative", comprising some 100 organizations representing the nations that signed the Dayton Peace Agreement. Their goal: to promote peace and reconciliation in the region, to strengthen ties between capital cities and to foster tolerance among peoples.
On 6 July 2004, in Belgrade, these efforts culminated in the signing of a Protocol on Inter-ethnic Tolerance by more than 40 mayors and heads of non-governmental organizations. The signatories committed themselves to promoting greater understanding of other cultures, religions and ethnic groups.
At the same event, a conference on "Tolerance and Understanding Above All", was co-hosted by the Center for Regionalism in Novi Sad, the Ministry for Human and Minority Rights in Serbia and Montenegro and the OSCE Mission to Serbia and Montenegro.
Regional reconciliation
In a clear sign of the growing importance of regional activities initiated by local citizens, the President of the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro, Svetozar Marovic, immediately accepted the invitation to deliver the keynote address. He told the gathering that he would use his authority, and would work closely with the country's institutions, to speed up the process of regional reconciliation and understanding in the region.
"The results of the recent Serbian presidential elections show that the majority of Serbian citizens accept the idea of tolerance," said Head of the OSCE Mission to Serbia and Montenegro, Ambassador Maurizio Massari. "Serbian citizens are following the path of democratization and EU accession. The renewal of the spirit of trust in the region serves as the foundation for multi-ethnic tolerance and co-operation."
In their statements, participants expressed the wish to build on the decades of peaceful co-existence between the different nationalities of the former Yugoslavia. Indeed, the conference and the signing of the agreement seemed to rekindle feelings of nostalgia for the multi-culturalism of old.
Calling attention to the strong link between the values of multi-ethnic tolerance and higher living standards, mayors and municipal representatives saw the region's future development path as inextricably linked with the reconciliation process. As their main contribution to peace-building, several officials made known their plans to draw up policy initiatives in culture and education, to be supported by public services and the media.
Reflecting on the future
Ilija Jurisic, Chairman of the Tuzla Municipal Council spoke for many of his colleagues when he said, "Joining the EU is not our main priority. We first have to restore our dignity and improve our standard of living. We are not interested in being part of the EU as poor people stripped of our pride, but as equal members who share European values."
In the meantime, the citizens' movement continues to gather steam and public and political support. The next step in its campaign for tolerance and understanding is the creation of the Association of Multi-ethnic Cities of South-eastern Europe which hopes to attract as many members as possible. For the Igman Initiative trailblazers, it's been a long, plodding journey from the dirt tracks over war-torn Sarajevo but one that stands to transform the lives of thousands.
The courageous movement eventually led to the birth of the "Igman Initiative", comprising some 100 organizations representing the nations that signed the Dayton Peace Agreement. Their goal: to promote peace and reconciliation in the region, to strengthen ties between capital cities and to foster tolerance among peoples.
On 6 July 2004, in Belgrade, these efforts culminated in the signing of a Protocol on Inter-ethnic Tolerance by more than 40 mayors and heads of non-governmental organizations. The signatories committed themselves to promoting greater understanding of other cultures, religions and ethnic groups.
At the same event, a conference on "Tolerance and Understanding Above All", was co-hosted by the Center for Regionalism in Novi Sad, the Ministry for Human and Minority Rights in Serbia and Montenegro and the OSCE Mission to Serbia and Montenegro.
Regional reconciliation
In a clear sign of the growing importance of regional activities initiated by local citizens, the President of the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro, Svetozar Marovic, immediately accepted the invitation to deliver the keynote address. He told the gathering that he would use his authority, and would work closely with the country's institutions, to speed up the process of regional reconciliation and understanding in the region.
"The results of the recent Serbian presidential elections show that the majority of Serbian citizens accept the idea of tolerance," said Head of the OSCE Mission to Serbia and Montenegro, Ambassador Maurizio Massari. "Serbian citizens are following the path of democratization and EU accession. The renewal of the spirit of trust in the region serves as the foundation for multi-ethnic tolerance and co-operation."
In their statements, participants expressed the wish to build on the decades of peaceful co-existence between the different nationalities of the former Yugoslavia. Indeed, the conference and the signing of the agreement seemed to rekindle feelings of nostalgia for the multi-culturalism of old.
Calling attention to the strong link between the values of multi-ethnic tolerance and higher living standards, mayors and municipal representatives saw the region's future development path as inextricably linked with the reconciliation process. As their main contribution to peace-building, several officials made known their plans to draw up policy initiatives in culture and education, to be supported by public services and the media.
Reflecting on the future
Ilija Jurisic, Chairman of the Tuzla Municipal Council spoke for many of his colleagues when he said, "Joining the EU is not our main priority. We first have to restore our dignity and improve our standard of living. We are not interested in being part of the EU as poor people stripped of our pride, but as equal members who share European values."
In the meantime, the citizens' movement continues to gather steam and public and political support. The next step in its campaign for tolerance and understanding is the creation of the Association of Multi-ethnic Cities of South-eastern Europe which hopes to attract as many members as possible. For the Igman Initiative trailblazers, it's been a long, plodding journey from the dirt tracks over war-torn Sarajevo but one that stands to transform the lives of thousands.