BDYC 2018 Edition

BALKAN DISKURS
YOUTH
2018 HIGHLIGHTS
Transforming the way in which positive stories of interethnic
cooperation and reconciliation are reported on in Bosnia and
Herzegovina—through the voices of its youth.

CONTENTS
07
WAR’S FORGOTTEN
CHILDREN
10
WE DIDN’T HAVE MUCH,
BUT WE WERE
SURROUNDED BY GOOD
PEOPLE
12
MY DISABILITY IS A
CONDITION, NOT A
PROBLEM
30
CITY CENTER
VENDORS
32
THE AGE OF
YELLOW GOLD
35
MOSTAR’S YOUTH TAKE
A STAND AGAINsT
TOBACCO SMOKE
16
through artistic
remembrance a
warnning unfolds
22
VISUAL
STORYTELLING
23
Sarajevo
artisans
38
2018 PHOTO
OF THE YEAR
40
ONLY JOURNALISTS CAN
FIGHT FOR SERIOUS
AND INDEPENDENT
MEDIA
43
Photo voice with
Project 1948
24
markale market
26
iftar in sarajevo
28
SARAJEVO’S YOUNGEST
CRAFTSMAN
50
A STEP TOGETHER
51
#SOLDIERSFORTRUTH
56
#MONUMENTFORALL
2 3

EDITORIAL
2018 YOUTH CORRESPONDENTS
Founder and Editor-in-Chief
Velma Šarić
Co-founder and Associate Editor
Leslie Woodward
The voices of those who could benefit the
most from the reconciliation process are not
being heard. Existing approaches to media
reform in the region have largely focused
on changing the production of news, rather
than looking to diversify the producers
themselves. Through the Balkan Diskurs
Youth Correspondents Program, we aim to
catalyze a new participatory form of media,
which will serve to transform the way in
which positive stories of interethnic cooperation
and reconciliation are reported on
in BiH—through the voices of the country’s
youth. By utilizing our unique online media
platform Balkan Diskurs as well as our expertise
in journalism, digital activism, and social
media, we are able to not only give a voice
to the youth who participate in our program
and its associated activities, but also to the
ordinary heroes who inspired it.
ADA HASANAGIĆ (28), Sarajevo
ADNA MUSIĆ (30), Sarajevo
AJNA NIKONTOVIĆ (22), Zenica
ALMA BAJRAMOVIĆ (20), Bratunac/Žepče
ALMEDINA HRNJIĆ (18), Zenica
AMRA DŽONLIĆ (22), Sarajevo
ARMIN HALILOVIĆ (22), Zavidovići
DOBRICA KUCALOVIĆ (27), Zvornik
DUŠKO MAJKIĆ (22), Tuzla
DŽENITA MAŠIĆ (24), Kladanj
ELENA CRNALIĆ (22), Prijedor
EMIN ZAIMOVIĆ (22), Brčko
LEJLA BURGIĆ (20), Sarajevo
MATIJA POPOVIĆ (18), Sarajevo
MIRZA MUSTAFAGIĆ (26), Tuzla
NAILA ELKASOVIĆ (21), Bužim
VEDRANA LEMEZ (30), Pale
VUK VASOVIĆ (21), Istočno Sarajevo
4 5

SRĐAN ALEKSIĆ YOUTH COMPETITION
1 st PLACE
WAR’S FORGOTTEN
CHILDREN
Text By Amra Džonlić (22), Sarajevo
The weight of war lies in the fact that, even after the armed conflict ends,
it leaves a burden on the hearts of all people. Thus, in many ways, that
war continues on. How much heart and soul must one possess to resist
hatred towards those who have committed injustice? Perhaps this is best
illustrated by the example of Ajna Jusić, who is working towards a system
that finally recognizes and acknowledges the “Children Born of War”
Photo Courtesy of Ajna Jusić
6 7
Photo By Erin Reasor

The president of the Forgotten Children of War
Association, Ajna Jusić, describes herself as
a woman, a daughter, a friend, an activist,
a feminist, a fighter, and an optimist. This
young woman is a true example of strength,
perseverance, and persistence.
Ajna was born in 1993 as the first baby of the Medica
Zenica Association. Her place of birth was determined
by the fate of her mother who was raped during the war
in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH). Ajna learned the truth
of her birth by chance as a high school student. The
trauma caused by the news of her birth was overcome
by the selfless love of her mother and her stepfather by
whom she was raised. Her experiences have shaped her
into the person she is today – brave and willing to speak
publicly about the most sensitive of topics. Through her
association, she continues the fight for her rights and
the rights of children born of war.
Ajna Jusić emphasizes that her family has played a key
role in her life, and all that she has achieved would not
have been possible without their support.
“Because of the very fact that I was born as a consequence
of the worst crime – rape – I was quite dependent
on the protection of my family my entire life. My
mother and stepfather poured all their energy into protecting
me from a society that is not yet aware of how,
and in what way, it will discriminate against and impede
the normal course of a life,” she says.
Ajna remembers what her dad (stepdad) always said to
her: “Be strong. The fact that you are a little girl doesn’t
make you less worthwhile or mean that you can do less
than others. Show everyone how much you can do, my
daughter.” “And here I am today, I like being a girl, and
even if folks say girls are not strong, I am strong. My
family was definitely my guiding star,” Ajna says.
The Forgotten Children of War Association was founded
by several enthusiasts - human rights activists and
children of war from BiH. These people remained in the
shadow of the war, invisible and unrecognized as a vulnerable
category of children in their biological mothers’
and fathers’ country of origin.
It is estimated that between 20,000 to 50,000 thousand
girls and women were raped during the war in BiH. For
more than twenty years after the war, no one is asking
what happened to the children born of war rape or children
born from the relationships of local women and
UN soldiers and other foreign officials who returned
to their countries after the war without accepting their
children. Ajna and her friends at the Forgotten Children
of War Association are searching for the answers to
these questions.
It is estimated that between 20,000 to 50,000 thousand girls
and women were raped during the war in BiH.
Photo Courtesy of Ajna Jusić
Photo By Nevena Medić
Their goal is to empower and educate children born of
war to take a proactive role in improving their status.
That also means providing access to education, adequate
social protections, psychological support, access
to the labor market, and access to justice through understanding
and protecting the rights of this marginalized
category of children.
The Association also launched an initiative for the legal
analysis of BiH law. Their goal is to adopt a single law
on civilian victims of war in BiH: a law that will not segregate
the surviving victims from members of the general
population. Ajna witnesses the violation of these
children’s rights every day. One example is the fact that
they have to give the name of their father on any official
paper they sign; the name of their father whose identity
they do not know, and, most often, do not want to
know.
Ajna is an example of courage and resistance to a system
that, even to this day, does not recognize her and
her colleagues from the association as a special category
in BiH society, which, she says, have suffered numerous
children’s rights violations.
When asked what motivates her most in life and in work,
Ajna responds, “My main drive is people. Who they are
and what they can do and feel. For me, human dignity
is the most important thing and I think it’s very important
That’s my drive. It drives me to fight for equality so
that everyone can live with dignity. On the other hand,
activism is another one of my passions. I am guided by
activism, I live and breathe it. I achieve my goals and
motivations through activism and that makes me happy.
I often say, small hands can create big smiles, and I
stand behind that.”
Her motives are quite clear. She wants to stay in BiH,
face these problems, and try to solve them. She wants
to be the voice of young people who deserve to be
heard.
“If you have a group of young people, who firmly believe
in a set objective, they will be the drivers of change.
Young people need support. It is up to us to push those
young people forward because everyone is lost if they
don’t know where to turn to for help. On the other hand,
there are always citizens that are more lethargic, but, at
the end of the day, it is their choice whether they will be
part of the change. The freedom to choose is everyone’s
right,” Ajna says.
Ajna believes that young people need to understand
how important it is that human diversity, starting with
culture, religion, and history, should not be perceived
as reasons for division, but as wealth from which we
can learn about unity.
“We need to strengthen the idea of an equal society that
does not live in the past. We need to strengthen solidarity,
empathy, freedom, and choice before all else. This is
my advice to the young people: work towards an equal
society because only then will we have the opportunity
to rise above all else,” declares Ajna.
She sees her future with the Forgotten Children of War
Association and believes a number of goals have already
been successful. The greatest success, of course,
is the fact that people are finally talking about these
children.
“For me, the greatest success is the fact that society is
starting to get acquainted with this topic. The most important
thing is that people know what we are speaking
of when we mention “children born of war” and that
they are offering their support. These are small steps,
but I believe we will achieve great success. Strategic
planning, organizational development, psychosocial
support, and networking are some of the things that
the association is still working on, but we are going to
go further. The association has great plans that will be
patiently implemented,” concludes Ajna Jusić.
8 9

2 nd PLACE
Elena and her brother Adrian with their mum Nataša and friend Mina (2005).
everything, my neighbor and I, up until that very last day.
Now when we meet, we both cry when we remember that
dreadful day, and after all that time, she kept my things for
me,” Mina recalls.
As she retells the story of her journey, Mina acknowledges
how much help they received along the way. A family they
knew from their hometown put them in contact with a local
lady from Opatija who cleaned out her basement and
took their family in. “We lived there for five months. The
family next door was from our village and the locals were
very helpful. I remember my kids helping out the local
grandma and grandpa, Zora and Vlado, who were selling
their fruit at the local markets. The pair was always happy
to have them around. We didn’t have much, but we were
surrounded by good people,” she says.
WE DIDN’T HAVE MUCH, BUT
WE WERE SURROUNDED BY
GOOD PEOPLE
Text By Elena Crnalić (22), Prijedor
We walk through life meeting people at every
turn. We know that most are not there
to stay, but each has a potential lesson to
teach us about the world and about ourselves.
There are those, however, who
change the course of our lives forever. Those rare individuals
who better your life, or even save it. Ordinary heroes.
This is the story of a family of ordinary heroes who embraced
my family and me in a time of need, and who love
us for who we are despite the differences that may exist
between us.
In 2004, when I was 10 years old, my family and I made
a big move from a small Croatian town to the faraway
land of Australia. My father was the first to leave, traveling
to a region situated north of Sydney. He traveled alone,
and with just one bag in hand. My mother, brother, and I
waited in anticipation while he went on a mission to find
a place for a small Croatian family to call home. With the
fewest number of immigrants in all of Australia, the Central
Coast proved difficult place to relocate to. With no previous
rental history in the country, finding an apartment
was, indeed, a hard mountain to climb. It is only now that
I am able to understand the sacrifices my parents made
and the hardships they endured to create a life for us on
the opposite side of the world. However, I am here to tell
a story of one ordinary family whose extraordinary kindness
impacted our lives forever. A family who, like us, is no
stranger to leaving their home behind to journey into the
unknown.
Our path with the Budimlić family crossed the day my father
entered a little real estate agency in a small Australian
town. Alma, a Bosniak who spent most of her life in Australia,
recalls that day: “As soon as I saw his last name, I knew
he was from the Balkans. He told me his story and I invited
him over to my parent’s place. We all went through difficult
times and I felt for him. He asked me about life in Australia
and I was curious about his decision to come here. I
never asked if he was Muslim, Catholic, or Orthodox. That
Mum Nataša, Zulfo Budimlić and Mina in Australia.
didn’t matter to me. My parents taught me to have respect
for everyone and never to hate, despite losing our home
and our homeland in the name of ethnic cleansing.”
Alma took my father to meet her parents, and soon thereafter
our families united to form a friendship that was
based on love and trust. Alma and her parents introduced
us to the wonders of Australia, but, unfortunately, our
time “down under” didn’t last long. The sudden shift from
Europe to Australia was hard on my parents and, after only
nine months, they decided to move us back to Croatia. As
is the case with many people, the culture shock was difficult
to adjust to and the thought of having left all of our
family behind was a painful one.
But this was not our last trip to Australia and it was also
not the last time the Budimlić family would lend us their
helping hand. Upon our return in 2008, they opened their
home to us, providing us with a place to stay and helping
me and my brother to enroll in school. When asked why
they were so eager to help us, Alma’s mother Mina replies,
“I knew what it was like to leave your homeland and come
to a foreign place. I felt the need to help and even invited
your father to come and stay with us the very first time
Alma met him. I am happy that we were able to help and
to make the resettlement process easier.”
As the war in Bosnia began to unfold, the Budimlić family
were forced to flee Bosanska Dubica, located in the northwestern
region of Bosnia and Herzegovina, in December
of 1992. With only a few belongings, the family made their
way across the Croatian border and to Opatija where they
spent some time before being granted Australian visas.
“I will never forget that day – the day we left everything
behind. Even before our departure, we didn’t sleep at our
house because the army would always come knocking at
our door. I remember the moment I left all my belongings
to our Serbian neighbor. We were both crying, and I told
her not to cry and not to save these things for me. I told
her that maybe one day I would return, but at that time,
it was impossible for me to know that. We used to share
After a long wait and with the help of family, friends, and
strangers, Mina and her family made their way to Australia.
“Australian people are wonderful and are willing to
help you out if they see that you are willing to help yourself.
Both my husband and I managed to get a job and, after
two years, we were able to move into our own house.
Now, we are still here 25 years later and it seems like it all
happened only yesterday.”
Regardless of what ethnicity, race, religion, or nationality
you may be, we all will need a helping hand at some
point in our lives. I will always remember all the incredible
things Budimlić family did for me just as they will forever
remember the help they received 25 years ago. And I hope
that, someday, I will be able to repay their kindness by being
someone else’s “Budimlić family”.
Alma Budimlić in Bosnia with Dragan – a former neighbor
who helped family Budimlić during the war, before
they left Bosnia. (2002)
10 11

3 rd PLACE
Text and Photos By Medina Rizvanović-Razić (29), Ilidža
“Not everyone has a developed an awareness towards
those that are different from themselves. I
learned to ignore comments and weird looks but
that doesn’t mean I don’t notice or get irritated by
them,” Merima says.
She points out that she has never been in a situation
where she was mocked or pushed aside, but when it
comes to “bad” behavior towards her she says that
it’s primarily people’s unnecessary comments or attitudes.
“As a person in a wheelchair, I think that these
difficulties can be divided into the physical
barriers disabled people face and the perception
that society generally has towards
the disabled. The physical barriers, such as
the inability to enter a store, institution, theater,
museum, or library, are generally more obvious and
disrupt our everyday lives. As far as the perception
that others have towards me goes, this is a much
more subtle difficulty. People in wheelchairs are
seen as “weaker” and “less competent” than people
who do not have any physical handicaps,” Merima
explains in an interview with Balkan Diskurs.
Awareness of Others’ Differences
“It’s understandable and I think we all struggle with
certain difficulties in our own ways. I know individuals
who have started organizations that greatly help
people with disabilities and raise awareness about
the disabled in Bosnia and Herzegovina, which is
very important. Often, the most difficult kind of
“struggle” is simply to live an active life – to be part
of society, to get out of the house, and to be present.
It is a more subtle kind of struggle to show that
it is possible to be a quality member of a society
that has a lot to offer. This struggle is an everyday
occurrence and requires patience and a solidly built
character and attitude,” Merima says.
Opportunities in BiH
MY DISABILITY
IS A CONDITION,
NOT A PROBLEM
The notion of disability is fairly broad and includes
persons with intellectual disabilities, visual and
hearing impairments, mobility problems, and other
issues that affect a person’s ability to perform
the daily activities of life. The United Nations Convention
on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
speaks of what state parties should do to ensure
that persons with disabilities have equal rights and
freedoms that belong to all people.
In every segment of life, it is important to have the
support of certain institutions. Certainly, family and
friends are an especially important factor regarding
the quality of life itself.
“Support is very important, especially when it
comes to educational institutions. There is a very
high percentage of children and young people who
don’t have access to education because there are
physical barriers that sometimes seem too formida-
Merima Dervović from Visoko is a student of the Faculty of Philosophy,
Department of Italian Language and Literature and is a person
living with a disability. Merima’s primary goal is to initiate an
open dialogue about the prejudices against disabled people and
the challenges they face in society.
12 13

riers in all segments of life so that every public institution,
organization, and public space can be accessed
by all people, including the disabled.
“I think that all change comes from within ourselves.
We need to invest time and effort to build ourselves,
our characters, and our attitudes. The world will not
change, but we can change our attitude towards it. I
think that a lot can be accomplished just by talking,
so I always try to openly talk about my disability.
Conversation is always the best way to dismantle
prejudices and educate others around us. As far as
people who do not know how to behave in the presence
of people with disabilities, I recommend that
they simply have an open-minded approach and to
freely ask if there is something that interests them,”
Merima says.
December 3 rd is official the International Day of Persons
with Disabilities, but this should not be the
only day when we think about them, and Merima
advises that we should continue to promote dialogue
and educate the people around us about the
importance of this issue.
“
I think that all change
comes from within
ourselves. We need to
invest time and effort
to build ourselves, our
characters, and our
attitudes.
ble. I was fortunate that the individuals in the high
school I attended had the desire to solve problems
related to physical barriers. Thanks to them, I didn’t
have a problem with these barriers, but in most situations,
that’s often not the case. Family and friends
are the pillars of a quality life and I have the kind of
family and friends who see my disability as a condition,
not a problem,” Merima says.
There are many associations in BiH that are trying
to make a real change towards improving the standard
of living for people with disabilities. These organizations
can make certain changes individually,
but support from the state and other institutions is
needed. Merima considers one of the most important
aspects of these associations the fact that they
are initiating a dialogue on topics associated with
disabled people and the challenges they face.
However, there are other problems that must be
addressed such as architectural barriers, barriers to
employment, and the barriers that exist in people’s
minds. The rights of people with disabilities are regulated
by the Law on the Basis of Social Protection,
Protection of Civilian Victims of War and Protection
of Families with Children. Among those basic rights
regulated by the aforementioned law is the priority
of employment.
Young people, in general, have a problem finding
employment nowadays, but, whether they are disabled
or not, there are opportunities out there.
“I’ve had good experiences regarding work and I
never noticed if my employers or my colleagues
looked at me in a “different” way. I do still believe
that prejudices exist when it comes to finding a job,
and my previous positive experiences do not guarantee
that I will not encounter these prejudices in
the future. It would be ideal to find a job or start my
own business immediately after graduating from
college. I want to have a quality life and be independent
like everyone else. So far that has been possible
with a lot of effort, so I am hoping for the best in
the future,” Merima expresses.
Removing the Barriers
A person does not choose how they will be born,
where they will be born, or who their parents will
be, but every person deserves the respect of basic
human rights and we must strive to eliminate bar-
14 15

HONORABLE MENTION
THROUGH ARTISTIC
REMEMBRANCE A WARNING
UNFOLDS
Text By Danka Cvijić (25), Banja Luka and Nataša Kondić (25), Banja Luka
to address topics of war and post-conflict
by organizing two important exhibitions.
One exhibition titled “Fifteen Years Since
the Signing of the Dayton Peace Agreement”
was organized in 2010 and presented real
and objective events that took place between
1990 and 1995. The second exhibition
was organized in 2012 under the name “Features
of the Army of Republika Srpska in the
Defensive Homeland War 1992-1995”. This
was an exhibition that, for the first time ever,
featured 150 original insignia worn by the
RS Army units in the past war. Weapons, uniforms,
photographs, and two authentic films
were presented alongside these insignia.
Director of the Museum of the RS, Nada Puvačić,
explains that exhibitions with war
themes are often politically influenced and
stresses that the Museum has respected its
obligation to uphold historical distance,
which allowed them to create exhibitions
unburdened with emotions, unverified data,
and controversial facts.
“There were other exhibitions we chose not
to take part in because of our commitment
to historical distance, which ensures proper
access to historical events and interpretations
of what is and is not true, free of political
influence. Exhibitions on this topic that
are displayed in other museums in our area
have revealed that curators do not always
live up to the expectations of their profession
and that some exhibitions just serve as
political propaganda,” the director explains.
The war is a delicate topic, thus, when transmitting
a credible message that represents a
crisis period, special attention must be paid
to every detail. Times of crisis, unrest, death,
strife, poverty, and fear must serve as a reminder
and warning so that similar events
will not be repeated in the future.
The exhibitions organized by the Museum of
the RS have generated broad public interest,
as evidenced by the fact that the opening
of its exhibitions were attended by the High
Representative of BiH, Valentin Inzko.
The museum’s director points out that they
are planning to organize additional exhibitions
of this nature in the future and that
they will be launched only after thorough,
expert, and time-intensive research of archival
documents.
“When an exhibition is done professionally,
its messages are scientifically and culturally
neutral. An exhibition designed in this way
leaves no space for political influence or manipulation,”
explains Puvačić.
An award-winning piece from Radenko Milak’s project exploring Bosnia and Herzegovina’s history of conflict.
Although the war is behind us, its
consequences are still visible today.
There are many problems that still
exist—from the differing opinions
of the country’s three constituent
peoples, to war crimes for which no one has
answered for, to the victims of the war who
have fallen into oblivion because they have
been reported as missing. Through individual
exhibitions and artistic displays, museums
across Bosnia and Herzegovina are making
an effort to paint a picture of the difficult situations
the population of this country has
faced.
In the Republika Srpska (RS), independent
authors, artists, and galleries are making an
effort to address topics war and post-conflict.
Some museums are also making attempts to
address such issues, including the Museum
of the Republika Srpska and the Museum of
Contemporary Art. The Museum of the RS is
regarded as the central institution for the protection
of cultural goods and has more than
40 employed curators, conservators, pedagogues,
and restorers. In this regard, it represents
the most important museum in the
RS.
In addition to its exhibitions, catalogs, promotions,
educational workshops, and museum
classes, the Museum of the RS also tried
The military and art worlds collide in works by Mladen Miljanović. (Photo source: Museum of Contemporary Art RS)
16 17

The military and art worlds collide in works by Mladen Miljanović.
(Photo source: Museum of Contemporary Art RS)
Several independent authors from the Museum
of Contemporary Art have also dealt with
the issue of war. Among them was Dr. Mladen
Miljanović, who translated his military experience
into photographs that depict the consequences
of the war. Miljanović graduated
from a specialized school for reserve officers
where he received the rank of sergeant, and,
thus, his work presents a balance between
the army and artistic realms.
The “I Serve Art” project along with the “Sitno”
dossier series, have identified and formalized
the transition of space and society, which,
in this case, coincided with Miljanović’s personal
experience. He believes that there are
drastic differences between the doctrines of
art and those of the army. He also believes
there are similarities in terms of the use and/
or abuse of both systems. He explains that,
through the “Sitno” dossier series, he has
tried to examine the possibilities of applying
a “drill-style” approach that is characteristic
of army operations, but in the context of art,
which was reflected in this work through the
enforcement of his own everyday creativity.
His exhibition “Sitno” offers a series of
two-dimensional and three-dimensional
paintings that are permeated by soldiers and
their tasks. For the “I Serve Art” exhibition,
Miljanović covered the entire space with a
silhouette of soldiers as a way to “occupy”
the galleries in which his art is displayed. His
works linking art and war also included making
a flower out of bomb parts, thus showing
the absurdity and, at the same time, the connection
between these two themes.
“I Serve Art” – photo documentation of Mladen Miljanović’s artistic performance at the ex-military base “Vrbas” in Banja Luka.
(Photo source: Museum of Contemporary Art RS)
Museum works on the principle of democracy
in order to overcome problems in society and
to work on reconciliation. She also points out
that works related to the topic of war were
primarily created through the lens of the curators’
and artists’ personal experiences, which
were transferred into artistic expressions.
She also states that the post-war problems of
today – identity crisis, nationalism, negation
and manipulation of war crimes, and political
manipulation – are something that the curators
and artists are trying to portray in their
works. Curators like Mladen Miljanović generally
deal with the post-war problems that are
still present in our society today.
In addition to Miljanović, Radenko Milak also
worked on the war-related topics with a primary
focus on civilians. His exhibition titled
“And what else did you see? I could not see
everything” depicts different events that took
place during the war in BiH. The exhibition included
a series of photos of a soldier kicking
civilians on the street.
Times of crisis, unrest,
death, strife,
poverty, and fear
must serve as a reminder
and warning
so that similar
events will not be
repeated in the future.
The spokeswoman for the Museum of Contemporary
Art, Branka Šestić says that the
Work by Radenko Milak from the exhibition “And what else did you see? I could not see everything”. The exhibition explores the famous photograph
taken by Ron Haviv in Bijeljina during the Bosnian war.
18 19

graphics in a way that people could interpret through their own
eyes,” the young artist said.
“War of Memories” is the title of an exhibition that was presented
to Banja Luka audience in 2016 in the Staklenac Music Pavilion.
The Center for Nonviolent Action was the organizer of this
exhibition. The aim of this exhibition is to research, document
and analyze the politics of memorization and the culture of remembrance
in BiH for all three peoples that fought each other.
Topics related to war and its legacies have been addressed with
an aim to show the suffering experienced by the citizens of BiH.
This was done to serve as a warning, to both the general population
and the political powers, to not disturb the safety of the
common man and to work on establishing peace and reconciliation.
Some things cannot be changed, and some memories can
never be erased. It is desirable that through these exhibitions we
draw attention to how important it is to ensure that past events
of war and conflict are never forgotten and never repeated.
“
I want to awaken people’s
empathy so that certain
things will never be forgotten.
- Aleksandra Grbović -
A painting by Aleksandra Grbović from the exhibition “In the Silence of Oblivion”.
Curator Žana Vukičević points out that such
topics are more interesting to foreign curators
because they represent populations from crisis
areas but believes that the local society has outgrown
such topics and that forcing them won’t
solve its post-war problems.
The dichotomy between countries in transition
and other more advanced countries was best illustrated
by Mila Panić in her video work showing
one family who lives in BiH and whose life is
not easy as a result of their everyday struggle to
survive and feed their family, whereas their relatives,
who live in Australia, live in abundance
buying new unnecessary things every day. This
video shows the harshness of post-war society
and poverty in comparison to life in countries
where “the milk and honey flow”.
Another artist who uses the medium of film is
Adela Jusić. She produced a documentary film
titled “The Sniper”, which narrates excerpts
from a notebook her father kept on his actions
as a soldier during the war in 1992.
In the UDAS Gallery in Banja Luka, the exhibition
“In the Silence of Oblivion” by painter Aleksandra
Grbović was organized. Grbović’s graphic
art aims to depict her feelings and emotions
about the unpleasant events such as World War
II, the Novi Sad raid, and the NATO bombing,
that hit Serbia and innocent civilians.
“I want to awaken people’s empathy so that
certain things will never be forgotten. I embed
many symbols of war and suffering within my
work, but also important dates. I created my
Visitors explore the “War Of Memories’’ exhibition in Banja Luka. (Photo source: Staklenac Music Pavilion/Center for
Nonviolent Action)
20 21

FIELDWORK ASSIGNMENT
SARAJEVO ARTISANS
VISUAL
STORYTELLING
VUK VASOVIĆ
As part of the 2018 multimedia training,
youth participants were assigned
a fieldwork task to test their new
interviewing and photography skills.
Under the instruction of professional
photographer Velija Hasanbegović, our
new Balkan Diskurs youth correspondents
set out into the streets of Sarajevo to
capture images that tell the stories of the
city.
22 23

MARKALE MARKET
ELENA CRNALIĆ
24 25

IFTAR IN SARAJEVO
ALMA BAJRAMOVIĆ
26 27

SARAJEVO’S YOUNGEST CRAFTSMAN
AMRA DŽONLIĆ
28 29

CITY CENTER VENDORS
LEJLA BURGIĆ
30 31

BALKAN DISKURS ARTICLE
THE AGE OF
“YELLOW GOLD”
Life as a Herzegovinian Tobacconist in the 1950s
Tobacco field in Višnjica (Grude), BiH
Text and Photos By Monija Markić (25), Široki Brijeg
For decades, tobacco has been a way of life
for many Herzegovinians, but there once
was a time when the free trade of tobacco
was forbidden. Those who dealt in tobacco
during that time will always remember it as
the age of “Yellow Gold”.
“Many dealt in tobacco as a result of poverty. Even
my father was a tobacco carrier (trader) during the
period of the first Yugoslav republic (1918-1941).
I didn’t have to carry tobacco; but since everyone
else was doing it, I wanted to partake,” says Ljubo
Mihalj Skokić, a 78-year-old tobacconist from Rakitno,
a village near the Herzegovinian city of Posušje.
Due to the high altitude, tobacco could not be cultivated
in Rakitno, so people from the village became
tobacco-carriers instead. Two to three people
per household were designated to deliver tobacco
to the state’s second province of Bosnia to be sold.
Normally, each person would transport tobacco
twice a month, but some hardcore carriers hit the
road more than 30 times a year. Although carriers
were mostly young men between the ages of 14
and 15, women weren’t exempt from carrying.
“There were around ten carriers in a group. In
those days, the majority or carriers belonged to the
Mihalj family,” remembers Ljubo, who worked as a
tobacco carrier for a decade.
The carriers would transport tobacco to Lepenica,
Kreševo, Draževići, and Romanija. Each village
had its own tobacco “connoisseur”. If the taster approved
of its quality, the tobacco would “sell like
butter” as Ljubo puts it. One backpack containing
20 to 25 kilograms of the “yellow gold” was worth
around 2,000 to 2,500 KM, and although the carriers
had to buy the tobacco, they always had more than
enough money. “The strong ones,” as Ljubo refers
to them, would even carry up to 30 kilograms.
“We were young, but not afraid because we carried
rifles and grenades with us. Back then I even had
two Kragujevka grenades. Sometimes, we would
return from Mostar at five o’clock and catch the
freighters at Visoka Glavica to ask for tobacco. On
one occasion, we got to Jasenik, near the town of
Ostrošac, and there were no scales. We decided
to put the tobacco into the barrel of a five-shot rifle.
We knew we had around one kilogram when
enough tobacco had been added to the barrel to
trigger a gunshot,” recalls Ljubo.
Ljubo reminisces about another occasion, sometime
around 1954 or 1955, when they bought unripe
tobacco, which later caught on fire. They had
to pour water on it, leaving it damp.
“We met some workers in Ilidža who were going to
Nemila near Zenica, so we decided to go there for
the first time along with them. That night in Ilidža,
we slept next to a stream. The workers told us that
no one had ever brought them tobacco before, so
they were quite happy. Even though our backpacks
were damp and heavy, they still wanted the tobacco.
We thought that we would get only 500 dinars,
but they gave us 1,000. We were actually better off
than at times when we carried three times that
amount,” says Ljubo.
Ante Markota, Ljubo’s friend from Rakićak, was also
a tobacco dealer during the period from 1954 to
1965. They are the only two from that generation,
born in 1939, still alive today.
“I lost my father when I was five years old and
earned my first dinar at 14 in Bačka where I picked
corn. After I returned to the village of Rakitno, I began
dealing in tobacco. I never went farther than
Fojnica and Visoko. Some carriers would accompany
their fathers and brothers, but since I was alone,
I would walk behind the others and follow their instructions.
I was very careful with my tobacco and
managed not to waste one kilogram of the yellow
gold; even if I had to march through the snow for
hours,” says Ante.
The men would usually get back home from such
trips after seven or eight days. Throughout their
journeys, they knew where to find shelter. Everyone
helped them along the way: Croats, Bosniaks,
and Serbs. Nationality wasn’t an issue at that time.
The police, however, were a different story.
“We always had to be careful so the police would
not catch us. But we always had acquaintances in
the places we traveled to,” says Ante.
32 33

BALKAN DISKURS ARTICLE
Herzegovinian tobacconists Ljubo Mihalj, Ante Markota, and Dragica Markota.
Nevertheless, there were some individuals who did
report them to the police.
“There were some traitors, but we never found out
who they were. Before we hit the road, our “friends”
would always warn us to watch out for the police
and would advise us not to take certain paths. We
never left our homes without knowing where the
police were stationed. Our helpers were like modern-day
radars,” says Ante.
Dragica, Ante’s wife and Ljubo’s cousin, was also involved
in the tobacco trade.
“I twice transported 18 kilograms of tobacco from
Grude. It was a different time back then. People
worked hard, but they were still very healthy. We
didn’t hold resentment against anyone or anything,”
says Dragica.
According to the tobacco dealers, the job was difficult
and dangerous as they transported the tobacco
during heavy rain and cold weather, but they
were physically prepared for it. They also knew that
their families relied on them and the money they
earned. With the earnings, some would buy land,
machines, or cattle while others spent the money
on fun things. Today, those involved in the trade
agree that those times passed by in the blink of an
eye, but they will always remember it as the Age of
Yellow Gold.
“
Throughout their journeys,
they knew where
to find shelter. Everyone
helped them along
the way: Croats, Bosniaks
and Serbs. Nationality
wasn’t an issue
at that time.
- Ante Markota -
Text By Marko Milikota (19), Mostar
MOSTAR’S YOUTH
TAKE A STAND
AGAINST TOBACCO
SMOKE
34 35

Photo By Klima Bez Dima / Media Publikum Agency
January 31st marks No Tobacco Day. Launched
in 1982 as a way to alert the public to the
harmful effects of tobacco smoke, this day is
now celebrated across the region. This year,
activists from the “Klima Bez Dima” (“Environment
Without Smoke”) initiative decided to organize
an action in Mostar to commemorate the occasion.
A creative and interactive video presentation titled “A
Life in Smoke – Save Me!” was presented at Mostar’s
Mepas Mall. As part of the presentation, the people
of Mostar could press a button that stood in front of a
smoke-filled screen to grant clean air to the person behind
the smoke and symbolically save a life.
Organizers of the Klima Bez Dima event, together with
young people from the Mostar Gymnasium and the
Dance Club “Stars”, and with the support of the Public
Health Institute of the Federation of BiH, celebrated
life and pointed out the necessity of protecting citizens
from exposure to second-hand smoke.
This event was part of a series of actions organized in
Sarajevo, Banja Luka, and Mostar that aimed to collect
10,000 signatures of support as well as to send a
message to decision makers in the legislative bodies of
both the Republika Srpska (RS) and Federation of Bosnia
and Herzegovina (FBiH) entities to work on adopting
and implementing legal solutions that will better
regulate issues related to tobacco control.
Mostar youth came to show their support for the “Klima
Bez Dima” initiative.
Performance by dancers from the “Stars” Dance Club.
Dr. Davor Pehar, Director of the Public Health Institute
of FBiH, states that smoking is the most widespread
addiction in the Federation. He says that more than
11,000 deaths per year can be linked to diseases that
are directly related to smoking and exposure to second-hand
smoke.
“We hope to encourage the adoption of a tobacco control
law that can support an environment where smoking
in all public spaces is prohibited, which would reduce
the harmful impact of second-hand smoke on our
health,” Pehar adds.
Mostar high school teacher, Valentina Planinić, states
that since a law has not been devised to forbid indoor
smoking, there is a smokers’ room in her school where
teachers can smoke.
“It is very hard to educate children about the dangers
of smoking if their educators smoke and they see them
doing it every day. The adoption of such a law would
make educational activities easier. It would be easier
to tell students that smoking isn’t healthy; that it is very
harmful and that they don’t have the right to endanger
others’ health. A smoker not only jeopardizes themselves
but also those around them,” she explains.
Nela Azinović, a student from Mostar, says she is exposed
to tobacco smoke on a daily basis as most of her
friends and family members are smokers.
“I often advise people to stop smoking, but that rarely
works. As a former student of medicine, I am more familiar
with this problem and with the harmful effects
of it, and I am very concerned for the people around
Photo By Klima Bez Dima / Media Publikum Agency
Photo By Marko Milikota
me as well as for myself,” Nela adds, emphasizing that
she will be supporting the Klima Bez Dima initiative because
she believes it can bring about positive and significant
changes for future generations.
Matea Perić, a high school teacher, is also exposed to
the harmful effects of tobacco smoke on a daily basis.
“When I think about it, I realize that the problem is a
major health threat for the population in general. Everyone
is so accustomed to being exposed to smoke
that it simply ceases to be a cause for concern. I, therefore,
support this initiative and consider the prohibition
of smoking in public places necessary. This would
likely reduce the number of smokers because they
would have limited opportunities to smoke and there
would be far fewer places where cigarettes would be
allowed,” she says.
Luka Miloš from Mostar is in a similar situation. Although
he is a non-smoker, he is still constantly exposed
to tobacco smoke.
“I’m terribly bothered by this because, first and foremost,
it’s not a pleasant smell and, secondly, because I
often have difficulties breathing due to my health problems.”
The Klima Bez Dima campaign is a continuation of
efforts designed to raise citizens’ awareness of the
harmful effects of smoking and the consequences of
exposure to second-hand smoke. Everyone, including
children, pregnant women, and elderly people, is
constantly exposed to second-hand smoke in all public
spaces across BiH.
The percentage of tobacco-related mortality in BiH is
among the highest in the world. According to the World
Bank in BiH, more than 9,000 people in BiH die each
year from smoking-related illnesses. The campaign’s
initiators point out that a complete ban on smoking in
indoor public spaces is the only way to protect people
Mostar youth came to show their support for the “Klima Bez
Dima” initiative.
from exposure to tobacco smoke.
Student Marija Sučić explains that, as a non-smoker,
she is affected by her exposure to smokers everywhere
she goes; from her own home to public areas such as
parks and promenades to catering facilities.
“Tobacco smoke is harmful, especially for young people
and children. I, thus, believe that smokers should
respect other people’s right to breathe clean air and
should not trap them in a room where the smoke is so
thick it resembles fog,” she says.
Marija also thinks that institutions have a responsibility
to educate youth about the negative aspects of a
smoker’s life.
Student Stjepan Nižić sees smoking as a significant
problem and says that he doesn’t feel relaxed when in
the company of smokers.
“I think this situation presents a problem for the health
of the environment and for the health of the smokers
themselves. The number of young people who smoke
is steadily increasing, despite the fact that we often
see how harmful cigarettes are and how negatively
they can affect our health, and this worries me,” he explains.
Student Ante Bagarić also views smoking as a threat
to health and the environment. He fully supports any
initiative to implement better laws in this area.
“I’ve been to countries where smoking in public places
is prohibited and I would personally like such laws
implemented in BiH because they would improve the
quality of health here. I absolutely support the Klima
Bez Dima initiative and I will definitely sign the pledge
to support their actions. We really need these kinds of
initiatives to bring about lasting changes that will benefit
our society in the long-term,” he concludes.
Performance by dancers from the “Stars” Dance Club.
Photo By Klima Bez Dima / Media Publikum Agency
36 37

2018 PHOTO OF THE YEAR BY ELENA CRNALIĆ
38 39

BALKAN DISKURS ARTICLE
ONLY JOURNALISTS CAN
FIGHT FOR SERIOUS AND
INDEPENDENT
MEDIA
Text By Anja Zulić (26), Banja Luka
As a part of the project “Real Voice of Journalism”,
supported by the European Union
through the small grants program “Protecting
Media Freedom and Freedom of Expression
in the Western Balkans”, the Post-Conflict
Research Center (PCRC) in Sarajevo has published
an official research report on the state of media freedom
in 17 local BiH communities that reveals the real-life,
everyday struggles that journalist and reporters
face in their efforts to produce unbiased, objective, and
relevant content.
The research is based on the work of the local media
through the voices of its journalists and has provided an
opportunity to showcase the true state of journalism in
targeted BiH communities.
Tatjana Milovanović, one of the report’s authors, stated
that 30 journalists contributed to the research. All
of them are professional journalists who work as correspondents
and freelancers for different local media
outlets.
“The research was broken down into several stages. We
first asked them to describe one working day and to
tell us about the challenges they faced. They were also
asked to tell us what they think the advantages of being
a journalist in BiH are as well as what their recommendations
for improvement would be,“ explained Tatjana.
Tatjana also noted that the research showed that many
journalists are aware that they sometimes do not conduct
their work in the most professional of ways. The
research revealed that there are many reasons for this.
Some of the primary problems that were uncovered are
common to all journalists, while others are specific to
local BiH journalists and their reporting environments.
Financial dependence on local authorities, various pressures
and threats, and ever-increasing censorship and
self-censorship have been highlighted as the main obstacles.
According to the journalists interviewed, this is
exactly the kind of situation that contributes to a working
environment in which is hard to do work in a professional
manner.
In local communities, many correspondents agree that
the hardest topics to report on are nepotism, corruption,
and stories about post-conflict issues. According to
the interviewees, topics related to economics, everyday
life, culture, and sports are much easier to report on.
The interlocutors also consider media outlets such as
Radio Free Europe (RFE), N1 Television, Al Jazeera Balkans,
and the Balkan Investigative Reporting Network
(BIRN BiH) as most trustworthy. The research also revealed
that journalists consider the existing legislation
decent but that the laws are not being implemented
correctly, which adds to the problems faced by media
workers in BiH.
Other challenges faced by journalists in local communities
include finding relevant interviewees as well as the
general lack of topics and events to cover.
‘‘What bothers me the most are the stories that have
nothing to do with the everyday life and problems
of people in local communities. News is only being
“produced” in favor of the governing structures and is
manufactured to show us how everything is great and
everybody is happy. There is a lot of censorship going
on and every attempt to hear another opinion is being
blocked,” states a journalist from Višegrad who wishes
to remain anonymous.
Another author of this report and journalist for Radio
Free Europe (RFE), Marija Arnautović, also stated that it
is much harder for local journalists in smaller communities
to report on certain topics than it is for journalists in
Sarajevo, Banja Luka, or Mostar. What is also worrying is
the lack of solidarity that exists between local journalists
as well as their claims that they don’t truly feel safe
while on the job.
Lejla Turčilo, a professor at the University of Sarajevo’s
Faculty of Political Science, explains that there is absolutely
external pressure being put on the media, but
that there are also pressures put on journalists by media
houses themselves who seem value everything but their
own correspondents.
“Very often, it is reported that the first location at which
journalist’s rights have been threatened is, in fact, at the
media agency for which they work. The owners and editors
of those agencies are more concerned about politics
and public opinion than they are about their own
journalists, and when you point out to the editors what
their journalists are saying about the deplorable working
conditions, the only response you receive is ‘if they
have somewhere else to go… they are free to do so.’
That is the scariest attitude that exists towards journalists
in my opinion,” says Turčilo.
“
There is a lot of censorship
going on
and every attempt
to hear another
opinion is being
blocked.
- Journalist from Višegrad -
40 41

This raises the question about what kinds of stories we
can then expect from the journalists that are working in
such conditions, but for Turčilo, such conditions do not
justify the unprofessionalism that we often see within
media.
Citizens Do Not Trust the Media
A public opinion survey conducted by the Association of
BH Journalists in 2017 points out the fact that BiH citizens
have an almost equal distrust of the media as they
do for the religious community. Media distrust is a result
of living in a system that was once under the control
of the Social Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (SFRY) and
during a time of extreme nationalism after the state collapsed
and the media served the political leaders and
military propagandists.
“There are media that indeed work in accordance with
the journalistic standards, but there are also those who
remain under the influence of the political parties and
work in accordance with those parties’ interests. Such
media base their reports on less than truthful information
and focus more on praising the parties they represent
and on campaigning against their opponents. The
basis for the media to be independent is to have financial
independence, which is rare today,“ says Gojko Veselinović,
a journalist from Banja Luka.
What the Real Voice of Journalism (RVJ) research has
shown, and what Borka Rudić from the Association of
BH Journalists points out, is that there is an increasing
number of online media outlets that are being established
by politicians during election campaigns.
“Your research has detected some critical problems,
one of which is the launching of media outlets by politicians.
We have journalists and editors on elections lists.
Journalists can and should actively participate in politics,
but it shouldn’t influence their work or the media
content they produce. Only journalists can fight for professionalism
in their field. They must protect their profession
because no other system will solve these issues
for them,” Rudić emphasizes.
According to data from the Communications Regulatory
Agency of Bosnia and Herzegovina (CRA), there are 386
active (traditional) media outlets in BiH, including 10
daily newspapers, 189 other print magazines 144 radio
stations, and 43 television stations. An accurate statistic
on the number of online media platforms is not available
at this time.
The RVJ research further revealed another challenge local
media makers face, which is a lack of media literacy
among citizens. Given the large number of active media
outlets and the high volume of available news content,
this is a significant challenge to overcome.
Milorad Milojević, a journalist from Banja Luka, believes
that very few citizens are equipped to critically and objectively
analyze the information they receive through
the media.
“I often record surveys and work directly with citizens
and what I have noticed is that people very easily fall
under the influence of populist politics… It seems that
some of us have not moved very far away from the war
trenches.“
It is also a significant challenge for journalists, especially
those working in local communities, to resist falling
under the influence of politics and to succeed in reporting
in an objective and ethical manner.
Milojević would agree, stating that the main challenge
for journalists is to retain their independence and not
fall under the influence of censorship and self-censorship.
“The biggest challenge is to present an unbiased
story in a way that everyone understands. Journalists
should work for all citizens, not for politicians, business
people, or criminals,” he says.
In Lieu of A Conclusion
The constant political pressures are only mounting,
especially within the local media, which is one reason
why professional journalism is fading. The lack of adequate
processing of attacks on journalists also poses a
significant problem. A very small percentage of reported
cases have been resolved, and, even if resolved, they
are treated as a misdemeanor rather than a criminal offense.
Thus, attacks on journalists are treated as disturbance
of public order and peace and not as a criminal
act of violating the journalists’ right to report, thereby
diminishing the gravity of these crimes.
Journalists are under constant pressure and the poor
economic situation only serves to further compound
the issues. Many journalists are working for multiple media
houses simultaneously and their salaries are abysmal.
Unofficial data from the Association BH Journalists
reveal that an average journalist’s salary is 500-600 BAM
(Bosnian Convertible Mark) and that only journalists and
working for media houses that are financed from abroad
have a higher monthly income. Additionally, most journalists
are employed on short-term contracts.
Journalists need help to fight for decent working conditions
in local communities, but above all, they must
become a united front in that fight. And they also need
to insist that journalism as a profession needs to be free
from any influence so that they can be fully responsible
for any and all content they create. Again, it is only the
journalists themselves that can fight for serious and independent
journalism.
MENTORSHIP ASSIGNMENT
PHOTO VOICE
WITH
PROJECT 1948
Our photo-voice program helps
the global community see through
a new lens by telling the story of
community concerns through media
documentation while amplifying
the voice of civil society and using
innovative data as a platform for
policy-change.
42 43

Theme: Access To cleAn WATer And
Gender equAliTy
In October 2018, the Project 1948
Foundation partnered with PCRC to
commission PCRC’s Balkan Diskurs
youth correspondents to take part
in a special photo project to advocate
for policy change around access
to water in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Correspondents ventured out to take
photographs that captured important
events, places, and activities in and
around Sarajevo related to water usage
and water shortages.
A selection of their photos will be presented
during the UN Women’s sixty-third
session of the Commission on
the Status of Women, to be held from
11 to 22 March 2019 at United Nations
Headquarters in New York. The priority
theme is “Social protection systems,
access to public services and sustainable
infrastructure for gender equality
and the empowerment of women and
girls”.
In addition, on behalf of civil society in
Bosnia and Herzegovina, Project 1948
Foundation and PCRC submitted a
statement to United Nations Women’s
Commission for the Status of Women
2019. The submitted statemennt follows.
44 45

At Project 1948 Foundation, we use our photo-voice
program to identify, represent, and enhance
gender equality and the empowerment
of women. In partnership with Post-Conflict Research
Center, our photo-voice program helps
the global community see through a new lens, by telling
the story of community concerns through media documentation
while amplifying the voice of civil society and
using innovative data as a platform for policy-change. Together,
our work has unearthed a shared challenge which
unites Bosnia and Herzegovina’s tripartite state; only 65
per cent of citizens have access to clean and safe drinking
water, the second lowest in Europe. Inefficient public
water companies, informal housing constructed after
the war and failure to secure necessary funding for vital
works to develop dilapidated infrastructure have led to
the current service failure. Although water is Bosnia and
Herzegovina’s most abundant natural resource, the water
crisis is widespread across all scales of inhibition,
affecting citizens settled in rural communities to the urbanized
regions of Banja Luka and Sarajevo, alike. On behalf
of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s communities, we urge
the member state of Bosnia and Herzegovina to fulfil the
United Nations Fundamental Human Right of access to
clean water and sanitation for all citizens, independent
of gender identity, ethnic background or socioeconomic
status.
Addressing said challenges through a truly sustainable
development model in the water infrastructure sector
has the opportunity to transform our global society
through water exportation from Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Ultimately, our organizations believe focused energy of
the government, private sector, and civil society is needed
to fully eradicate this issue to engage in progress with
fulfilment of the United Nations Sustainable Development
Goals 16 and 6, but also Goal 5. Inextricably linked,
improvement of water provision will empower women
and girls whose daily routines are disproportionately affected
by the public services current failings, progressing
Bosnia and Herzegovina’s journey towards gender parity
by 2030.
We must commit to not only invest in gender equality, access
to public services and sustainable infrastructure for
gender inclusiveness, and the empowerment of women
and girls, but we must understand how imperative it is
to budget for the access to clean and safe drinking water.
Although our organizations have founders from the United
States, we have received no on-ground support from
government entities including, the United States and
Bosnia and Herzegovina. However, we need the public
and private investment in order to improve water supply
and sanitation and water resources management at the
country-level cost. And, by our non-governmental organizations
estimate, it is clear that meeting such investment
challenges is reachable.
Clearly, we see obstacles framed in Bosnia and Herzegovina,
where our organizations conduct much of its work
for the successful implementation of social protection
systems, access to public services and sustainable infrastructure
for gender equality and the empowerment of
women and girls. Currently, the country in which we work
has placed as the very last member state to achieve the
2030 Agenda. We strongly urge the United Nations, government
entities, civil society, and the private sector to
move forward in joint efforts in helping Bosnia and Herzegovina
achieve the 2030 Agenda with providing access
to public services and sustainable infrastructure in water
governance with gender inclusiveness furthering the
empowerment of every man, woman and child in Bosnia
and Herzegovina.
46 47

Photos By:
AmrA Džonlić
Armin HAlilović
lejlA Burgić
48 49

MENTORSHIP ASSIGNMENT
#SOLDIERSFORTRUTH
Text and Concept By Armin Halilović (22), Zavidovići
A STEP
TOGETHER
SOCIAL MEDIA TO COUNTER
VIOLENT EXTREMISM
“In this context, it becomes natural to think in terms of your
own social group and to situate your group in opposition to the
“imagined enemy”. This “us vs. them” mentality provides a perfect
storm of conditions for the development of a revisionist history
that tells the story of the conflict in strictly ethnic terms, with “us”
playing the role of heroes and “them” as the perpetrators of unspeakable
crimes against our people.”
– Nedžad Novalić, historian, journalist, and member of the Center for Non-violent Action –
PCRC worked with youth from
across BiH to create online
campaigns that aimed to
promote peace and intercultural
understanding as well as to bring
awareness to important topics
affecting their local communities.
50 51

Photo credit: Midhat Poturović
Photo credit: Midhat Poturović
No one understands more the horrors of war than those who have seen it firsthand, especially if they held
a gun in their hands.
In BiH, former combatants represent a segment of the population. After the war, their service ended and
many found themselves without a job, disabled, or without a place of belonging. These men saw their
country collapse and many would come to realize the damage that can be done under the influence of
extreme and violent nationalism. Now, some have taken it upon themselves to raise awareness about the
danger of extremist narratives so that history does not repeat itself.
Photo credit: Ron Haviv
The only survivor of a massacre finds his home in ruins
(1995).
“
The outbreak of conflict
in 1992 was a long process
in which you completely
dehumanized
the other side, in order
to make an ordinary
man ready to kill.
– Nedžad Novalić –
During the 1990s, a wave of nationalism swept through the former Yugoslavia. Political leaders utilized
extremist ideologies to paint a picture of “the other”, an enemy less than human who was to be confronted
with weapons and bloodshed. Many had to go to war not knowing what the reality behind these glorified
narratives of heroism was: on the battleground they found suffering, death, and horror. Like many
civilians, the soldiers were victims of extreme narratives that justified violent acts to reach political goals.
“
Photo credit: Brad Hobbs
Many young Bosnians are not fully aware of the extent of the violence and how it affected lives across the
country. Instead, they are often taught revisionist narratives that reinforce negative stereotypes and continue
to foster divisions or animosity between social groups. The chaotic reality of war has been packaged
into digestible narratives that often serve to stifle constructive discourse.
You do not hear about the everyday experiences of war, how it
feels to lose your friend or to get hit with bullets; what you hear in
public spaces is that [this person] is a hero… he died for us.
– Nedžad Novalić –
Muhamed Fafulović, Roma war veteran
“
Shells were falling, and the
air was black and full of
dust. I don’t remember how
I came to realize that my leg
was wounded, I only saw
that blood was flowing down
the leg of my pants and I
remember feeling pain.
– Muhamed Fafulović, Roma war veteran –
War veterans often have very similar experiences of the war, regardless of which side they fought for. They
all suffered from personal losses, spent months in the mud, and risked their own lives for a cause they
initially believed in. The raw reality of combat quickly overshadowed the tale of a heroic fight for one’s
country. In the end, there were no winners, only victims of the devastating effects of war – this became
apparent to soldiers from all warring factions.
52 53

Photo Credit: Center for Non-violent Action
From fighting across enemy lines to sharing a smile together.
“
When you sit, drink coffee, and
talk about normal times, you can
say that most veterans are ordinary
family men. After several
meetings, it becomes a friendly
situation, so we can discuss
what we are going to do about
peacebuilding and reconciliation.
We are not enemies anymore.
– Amer Delić, Educator at the Center for
Non-violent Action –
“
Photo credit: Midhat Poturović
These veterans all come from different backgrounds and
different professions, but they are united for this cause.
– Miralem Duranović, war veteran –
If the ideologies that once served to divide soldiers, citizens, and nations become less important and the
narratives of today that seek to dehumanize others are both replaced with narratives that promote mutual
understanding and moral courage, a common ground for reconciliation can be established.
Photo Credit: Center for Non-violent Action
Bosnian war veterans declare a hunger strike in front of the Parliamentary Assembly of BiH in the hopes that state ministers
will finally pay the pensions they had been promised after being forced to retire as part of Bosnia’s efforts to build a
unified army after the 1992-95 war.
Veterans offer prayers in their respective faiths during a 2017 visit to a wartime memorial near Varivode,
Croatia.
The first step to building a common ground for reconciliation and intercultural cooperation is to create the
spaces for dialogue between individuals from different social, religious, political, and ethnic groups and
backgrounds.
“
All of us gathered today paid tribute we all who have died in this area, we
sent a message of encouragement to all mothers, daughters, and sons who
have lost loved ones. I join the appeal to uncover the missing so that families
can find comfort and finally put their loved ones to rest. By exchanging
experiences, we hope that we will make it easier for those who come after
us to live together with a better understanding of one another.
– Enes Bajrić, former officer of the BiH Army from Zavidovići –
Photo Credit: Center for Non-violent Action
We cannot build a resilient and unified society solely from the ground up. Social change originates with people
standing together for a common cause, as diverse groups of war veterans from across BiH have shown. However,
the success of their protests demanding better social benefits relies on support and legislative action at
all levels of government. The state must support its citizens regardless of their background.
As part of a reconciliation initiative coordinated by the Center
for Non-violent Action, war veterans from BiH’s three constituent
ethnic groups visit classrooms across the country to
share their stories and discuss the value of putting differences
aside in order to move forward.
The education system is still ethnically divided
throughout much of BiH and children are exposed
to the prejudices of their parents and teachers. For
this reason, some war veterans from all sides of
the conflict are going into schools to discuss their
stories and reveal the value of putting differences
aside in order to move forward. It is striking for
students to see three ex-enemies enter the classroom
together to talk about their experiences and
promote constructive dialogue.
“
One of [our] goals is to leave
our children a recollection of
war that will not lead us to new
wars. – Adnan Hasanbegović, war veteran –
54 55

#MONUMENTFORALL
Text and Photos By Vuk Vasović (21), Pale and Amra Džonlić (22), Sarajevo
#MonumentForAll tells the story of the Vraca Memorial Park in an
effort to remind BiH’s youth that sources of unification from our
past do exist and that we should not allow divisive historical narratives
to dictate our future.
In a post-conflict society such as BiH, we can find many examples of divisive and extremist historical
narratives. Contested memorials and monuments often serve to perpetuate such narratives,
which poses a significant problem, especially for BiH’s future generations. However, memorials
can also serve as a source of unification as @VukVasovic (Pale) and @AmraDzonlic (Sarajevo) will
reveal as part of their #MonumentForAll campaign. These two young people came together at
Vraca Memorial Park Vraca, a place that divides their two cities. Even though they come from different
ethnic backgrounds, they are working together to combat the negative stereotypes and
propaganda that revolve around monuments throughout BiH.
Although it now lies in ruins, the Vraca Memorial
Park remains one of the most beautiful
monuments created for the Yugoslav victims
of WWII. Located on the northern slopes
of Trebević, the monument sits directly on
the border of Eastern Sarajevo (Republika
Srpska Entity) and Sarajevo (Federation of
BiH Entity).
Built at the end of the 19th century, Vraca Memorial
Park is located in what was once an Austro-Hungarian
fortress.
After the occupation of Sarajevo by Nazi forces
during WWII, the fortress was transformed into
a prison camp and execution site. Victims who
were killed within the fortress or outside its
walls were buried around the structure and the
captives were either killed on site or at police
torture centers in town.
The fortress was abandoned for some time after
WWII. However, as Vraca soon became a synonym
for resistance and the struggle against
fascism by ordinary citizens, it was decided that
a memorial park should be made and the fortress
should be turned into a museum.
56 57

Construction on the Vraca Memorial Park
and museum began in 1980 with an aim to
memorialize and document the atrocities
that took place there and in surrounding
areas. By combining the work of Vladimir
Dobrović, responsible for the park’s overall
design, with that of sculptor Alija Kučukalić
and landscaper Aleksandar Maltarić
the memorial was established and the
park was officially opened on 25 November
1981, Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Day
of Statehood.
The park covers 78,000 square meters of land and the monument walls are inscribed with the names
of more than 11,000 men, women, and children who were killed, or thought to have been killed, during
WWII. It was declared a National Monument in 2005 by the Committee for the Preservation of National
Monuments in BiH and is now protected by the state.
“
Those who
cannot
remember
the past are
condemned
to repeat it.
– George Santayana –
But today, Vraca Memorial Park sits abandoned and dilapidated. Graffiti covers the monument’s wall
but cannot hide the site’s important history.
During the Bosnian War, which took place from 1992 – ’95, history repeated itself as the Vraca Memorial
Park was again used as a site of atrocity. Due to its tactical location, the park became a military
outpost from which Sarajevo was bombarded. By the war’s end, the memorial was left almost
completely destroyed.
An inscription on the wall reads:
“Our glorious past will be
an example to future generations
of how the peoples
of one small country
were determined to defend
their country and freedom
at the price of the heaviest
of casualties, ready to perish
rather than to slavishly
kneel before the fascist occupiers.”
58 59

So, why should we remember?
“I remember the events of WWII through
the colorful stories of my grandfather,
who during that time was a boy and who,
unfortunately, lost everything in the
war… I believe that there is no conflict
prevention without knowledge. I would love
it if young people in BiH became more familiar
with the country’s monuments and what
they represent. The monument in Vraca holds
a special significance related to the memory
WWII and, although it sits on the dividing
line between Eastern Sarajevo and Sarajevo,
it still symbolizes the united struggle against
fascism.”
– Merjem Čorbo (24), Sarajevo –
A Publication By
“Like any other resident of a former Yugoslav
country who was born after the
break-up of Yugoslavia, the first information
I ever received about WWII was
from films about this historical period.
The Battle of Sutjeska, Walter Defends Sarajevo,
Partizanska Squadrila, and many other
films taught me about the things that took
place during those times… We should work
towards reconciliation for our future. We
must focus on united actions, shared fun, and
a common goal. Love and community can exist,
but only if we unite to improve the economy
and the standard of living.”
– Filip Matić (21) East Sarajevo –
The fight for freedom and peace is what should connect BiH youth
today and the preservation of historical monuments and education
related to those monuments can serve as a strong deterrent
against divisive ideologies and future conflict. Does your community
memorialize WWII or other significant historical events from
BiH’s past?
The Post-Conflict Research Center would
like to give a special thanks to the National
Endowment for Democracy for its support
of our Balkan Diskurs Youth Correspondents.
60