PRESS CONFERENCE BY BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA

Press Briefing

PRESS CONFERENCE BY BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA

Now that the bloodshed in Bosnia and Herzegovina had stopped and the military and political goals of the peace accords had advanced, the focus should be on healing and reconciliation, that country's four religious leaders said yesterday afternoon at a Headquarters press conference.

The Permanent Representative of Bosnia and Herzegovina to the United Nations, Muhamed Sacirbey, introduced the representatives of the Inter- Religious Council of Bosnia and Herzegovina, as follows: the head of the Jewish community of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Jakob Finci; the Raisu-Ulama or highest authority of the Islamic community, Mustafa Ceric; the Archbishop of Sarajevo, Vinko Cardinal Puljic; and a representative of the Orthodox Church of Belgrade, Radomir Rakic, on behalf of the head of the Orthodox Church, Nikolaj Mrdja. The President of the Appeal of Conscience Foundation and host of the Inter-Religious Council, Rabbi Arthur Schneier, also attended.

Rabbi Schneier said that the Appeal of Conscience Foundation was founded in Bern, Switzerland, in November 1992 at the height of the conflict and bloodshed, by religious leaders of the Catholic Church and the Islamic community. That summit had enabled the religious leadership to take a stand against the war. The resulting Bern Declaration clearly stated that a crime perpetrated in the name of religion was a crime against religion. A number of follow-up meetings formed the prelude to the Dayton Conference, which welcomed the religious leaders not only as men of faith, but as men of courage.

Now that the bloodshed had stopped, they should devote their energies to bring about healing and reconciliation, he said. Their visit to New York and to Washington, D.C., was intended to draw attention to their message of working together to promote tolerance, in order to promote the principle of "live and let live".

Mr. Finci, President of the Jewish Community of Bosnia and Herzegovina, said the leaders of the four traditional religions in Bosnia and Herzegovina had decided to work together to help with reconciliation efforts, following the signing of the Dayton peace agreement. It had not been an easy task, and just two years after the end of the war, the wounds were still fresh. Their recent statement of shared moral commitment called for truth and justice as a path to reconciliation.

As long as a foreign military presence remained in Bosnia, there would be peace on the ground, and with the assistance of the international community and international financial organizations, the other obligations of the accords could be fulfilled, he said. However, it would all be meaningless without reconciliation between the people of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The religious leaders sought to restore "common life" and tolerance to Bosnia, which for nearly five centuries had been known as one of the most tolerant

countries in Europe. Although the war in Bosnia had not been a religious one, religion was a vehicle towards reconciliation.

Mr. Ceric, head of the Islamic community, said the Dayton accords had two components -- a military plan to end the war and a plan for civilian reconciliation and peace. Thus far, the military aspect of the agreement had been more successful than the civilian aspect. The civilian aspect of the agreement had four objectives: free movement; the return of refugees; free media; and the trial of war criminals. Those goals had not yet been met. While there had been some improvement, there was no truly free movement, no returned refugees and no free media. Moreover, war criminals remained at large.

While the international community was involved in Kosovo at the onset of its problem, Bosnia should not be forgotten, he said. Improving the situation in Bosnia would improve the situation in Kosovo. A good example must be set in Bosnia, where various religions, ethnicities and cultures coexisted. Human beings could not accept the illogic of "ethnic cleansing", which implied that either religions, languages or people were "dirty". Religious leaders had committed to work together with the authorities to find the 8,000 missing persons. They should also work for the return of refugees, as well as to rebuild religious houses where they once stood.

Archbishop Pulij of Sarejevo, speaking through an interpreter, emphasized that the existing laws in the Federation and the Republic of Srpska should be harmonized in order to allow for the safe return of refugees. The religious leaders welcomed the Dayton accords and would now like its signatories to implement them. The diversity of a multi-religious society should be cherished, and its leaders should strive to build tolerance. While religious leaders could not assume the role of political leaders, they had their own roles to play. Society and the media should also strive to eliminate the hatred and build mutual trust. Dialogue and tolerance was the only path to the future.

Archdeacon Rakic said the media's role was very powerful. As a newspaper editor, he knew that even in the Church press, people liked to write negative things about others. Such texts provoked hatred and animosity rather than peace. He fully supported the comments made today by the other religious leaders, as well as the principles of the Dayton accords.

Ambassador Sacirbey then announced that the religious leaders and Rabbi Schneier would share a dialogue with the media at 6 p.m. in the Trusteeship Council. Everyone was invited.

A correspondent asked whether the religious leaders, along with the politicians who had signed the peace accords, would share the responsibility for peace in Bosnia. He also asked whether the absence of the highest

Bosnia Press Conference - 3 - 21 May 1998

representative of the Orthodox Church in Bosnia indicated a lack of commitment for that kind of peace mission.

Cardinal Puljic said there was no alternative to the current path. Preaching and practising dialogue and tolerance was the only way for the religious leaders. Moreover, those who praised God should respect their fellow human beings. Religious leaders had the responsibility to correct the notion that "might means right", in order to protect the integrity and human rights of all people.

Archdeacon Rakic said that the leader of the Serbian Orthodox Church of Bosnia, Nikolaj Mrdja, was scheduled to come to New York but had been detained when the Holy Assembly of Bishops was unexpectedly extended. Rabbi Schneier said that the absence of the Serbian Orthodox Church leader should not be misinterpreted. Mr. Ceric added that religious leaders were as responsible as anyone for peace, maybe even more so in light of their sphere of influence.

Another correspondent asked for a breakdown by religion of the number of people killed or missing during the war. Mr. Sacribey said the total was estimated at well over 200,0000 people killed or presumed dead. However, it was inappropriate for religious leaders to break down the numbers according to religious denomination.

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