The Book “Decoding Aggression: The Supreme Defense Council of the Yugoslav Federation and the War against Bosnia and Herzegovina”

On 25 April, the book “Decoding Aggression: The Supreme Defense Council of the Yugoslav Federation and the War against Bosnia and Herzegovina” was promoted at the Sarajevo City Hall.

The authors of this important work are Dr. Muamer Džananović and Dr. Hikmet Karčić from the Institute for Research on Crimes against Humanity and International Law, University of Sarajevo, Dr. Emir Suljagić, Director of the Memorial Center (MC) Srebrenica-Potočari, and Prof. Dr. Sead Turčalo, Dean of the Faculty of Political Sciences at the University of Sarajevo.

The book is a result of extensive scientific research on the role of the Yugoslav Federation in aggression against Bosnia and Herzegovina, and represents a joint result of the work of three educational institutions - MC Srebrenica-Potočari, Faculty of Political Sciences at the University of Sarajevo, and Institute for Research on Crimes against Humanity and International Law at the University of Sarajevo.

“When such books are published, we often find ourselves before comments about why we are dealing with war, returning us to the past and so on. A famous philosopher and historian once said that one who does not remember the past is condemned to repeat it. A researcher who deals with knowledge has a personal responsibility to deal with such topics, and secondly, cannot be a passive or active conformist, not wanting to step out of his comfort zone and face such comments and challenges. I believe that this book, as well as our previous work “Presretnuti razgovori” and “Nastanak Republike Srpske”, is very important for understanding political circumstances, all resistance we have to the Resolution,” emphasized Turčalo.

This publication is of exceptional importance because it provides a detailed insight into Serbian state mechanisms and decisions that led to aggression and crimes, offering a necessary perspective for understanding the dynamics of aggression against Bosnia and Herzegovina.

“These are original scientific research results. We have proven that the Supreme Defense Council of the Yugoslav Federation played a crucial role in making numerous decisions related to Yugoslavia's involvement in aggression against Bosnia and Herzegovina, sending its units, trying to conceal its role. What is a fact is that President Dobrica Ćosić, later Zoran Lilić, as well as members of the Serbian and Montenegrin Presidents Slobodan Milošević and Momir Bulatović were involved in key decisions, were aware of the course of battles in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia. They were completely aware of the importance of international recognition of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and with that in mind, they also tried to conceal their role in logistical and other support for aggression, especially through the formation of cadres' centers, through which they sent military personnel from Yugoslavia to battlefields,” said Džananović.

Through this book's promotion and insight into its content, it is intended to bring attention to why there is so much resistance by authorities in the Bosnian-Herzegovinian entity RS and Republic of Serbia to the Resolution on Genocide in Srebrenica, which will be voted on by the United Nations General Assembly in May.

“Serbians and political representatives of RS entity invest enormous resources in denying aggression, genocide, war crimes, especially Yugoslavia's role in all these events. Considering this effort, it is clear why there are these reactions to the Resolution,” said Džananović.

Book reviews are signed by Dr. Jasmin Medić, Dr. Elvedin Mulagić, Dr. Jasmin Mujanović, and edited by Dr. Rasim Muratović.

“The point of this book is that those who were behind the scenes in Bosnia and Herzegovina during that period, who knew exactly where every tree was located, every stream, every person was planned and organizely working or rather hiding behind aggression, which resulted in numerous crimes including genocide. It is important to distinguish truth from falsehood, right from wrong, and finally learn a lesson for all who want to learn that it should not happen again,” said Muratović.

In addition to authors' book promotion, attendees included advisor Denis Bećirević's council member Mehmed Pargan, Prime Minister of Canton Sarajevo Nihad Uk, Rector of the University of Sarajevo Prof. Dr. Rifat Škrijelj, Prof. Dr. Rasim Muratović, Director of the Institute for Research on Crimes against Humanity and International Law at the University of Sarajevo. The event was attended by representatives from political life, religious life, cultural life, social life in our country as well as many interested citizens.