r@mc @j hcdmshsds t oqnbdot rs@qnf h mnunf - Helsinki ...

Sandžak: identity and recent past
community and minorities. Absence of a clear awareness of proper identity,
makes more difficult understanding of identity of the Other. If the Other
is perceived as an enemy, then an already difficult and complex process of
building of democratic institutions is slowed down and even called into question.
There is another salient problem: namely the idea of regional identities
is still perceived as a threat to the survival of an imagined unity of nation.
• Educational system does not embrace Bosniak culture and regional specific
features, tradition and history of Sandžak. Relations between Beograd and
Sandžak in that regards have become so strained that participants in the
panel-discussion expressed their fear that the very name of the region might
soon be prohibited.
• In the ongoing assimilation of Bosniak people, educational system plays a
major role. Many participants underscored that Bosniak children in primary
and secondary schools were only taught the Serb culture, Serb language,
Serb history, music and tradition, while the Bosniak history, culture and
tradition were totally neglected. Bosniak language was introduced in educational
syllabus only as a facultative subject-matter.
• All participants urged the plurality of identity, that is the need to find a new
formula of a multicultural society, which in the more adequate way would
reflect the heterogenous nature of the Serbian society.
• It was established that any claim to regionalization is politically criminalized
and treated as a separatist and subversive effort/action. The opinion
was expressed that the Serb Constitution in place keeps allows continuing
pursuance of a xenophobic and archaic policy, and prevents integration of
Serbia on a modern basis. It was also noted that in the political scene of Serbia
anti-European forces, the very forces which had caused disintegration of
Yugoslavia, are still very strong.
• With its legislative and financial resources Serbia should help development
of Sandžak infrastrucutre. The former could then attract foreign investments
and foreign capital to the region. It was also indicated that in those
terms a local self-rule could play a major role.
• Participants in the panel-discussion emphasized that denial of Sandžak was
intensified after the Eighth Session of the Central Committee of the League
of Communist of Serbia, in 1987. The mass media, textbooks, various publications
and books barely mention the name Sandžak. It has been widely
replaced by name-Raska region. Sandžak and Bosniaks are depicted as a
SANDŽAK: IDENTITY AND RECENT PAST
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