“1991: Political Processes in Bosnia and Herzegovina during the Disintegration of Yugoslavia” Round Table Held
Organized by the Institute of History of the University of Sarajevo, on 10 November 2021, in the University of Sarajevo Ceremonial Hall, a round table “1991: Political Processes in Bosnia and Herzegovina during the Disintegration of Yugoslavia” was held.
The roundtable, organized on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia’s dissolution, was dedicated to interpreting the disintegration of the Yugoslav state union, considering military and political events in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the wider context, and dealing with the region's and Bosnia and Herzegovina's recent past and transition.
The meeting was opened by Prof. Dr. Mirza Dautbašić, Vice-Rector for Research at the University of Sarajevo, pointed out that the events in Yugoslavia and Bosnia and Herzegovina in 1991 largely determined the sequence of events that would later affect not only political processes but directly the lives of all of us. “That is why I think that holding a meeting on this topic is very important because it provides an opportunity for scientific valorization of a time marked by, we can say, epochal changes in this area, such as the fall of communism, the dissolution of Yugoslavia and then the independence of our country - Bosnia and Herzegovina. Therefore, it is very important that through scientific discourse we come to historical facts that, in order to influence our givenness, must be contemporary, i.e. viewed in a new and different way 30 years later” said Vice-Rector Dautbašić.
The introductory address was given by Prof. Dr. Ejup Ganić, a former member of the Presidency of RBiH, who on that occasion expressed satisfaction that the younger historians decided to study the 1991 period in detail. “I am here to share with them some thoughts, ie dilemmas that prevailed in the Presidency at that time. There will also be talks about internal problems at that time, pressure from the side. Those were turbulent years, that was the year of the meeting in Karađorđevo in March 1991. “However, you should know that Bosnia was very technologically developed at that time. It was a year of anticipation. When everything is added up, I think we were in a one-way street” explained Professor Ganić.
Dr. Sedad Bešlija, University of Sarajevo Institute of History Director, said that within the work plan for this year, they singled out two significant anniversaries, events, ie historical processes from Bosnia and Herzegovina. of the past. “Today is the 30th anniversary of the dissolution of the former Yugoslav state. In 1991, the Yugoslav stage ended, and the phase of independent republics and states in Southeast Europe began” explained Dr. Bešlija, and added that today's gathering is an opportunity to consider from a historical point of view all the political processes that took place in 1991, with an emphasis on RBiH.
Dr. Jasmin Medić from the UNSA Institute of History emphasized the importance of analyzing the events in Bosnia and Herzegovina in 1991, and assessed the situation from 1991 to the present. “There are some things that are reminiscent of the events of 1991, and that is why it is very important that we talk about it today. And in 1991, some people wanted to draw borders within BiH, today it is on the scene” added Dr. Medić.
Within two sessions, eight scientists from Sarajevo and Mostar participated in a round table whose goal was to shed light on the position of Bosnia and Herzegovina in the process of disintegration of the SFRY from a historical, but also sociological, legal and political aspect and thus make a multidisciplinary approach to a given topic.
Within the first session, the presentation “American policy towards Yugoslavia in 1991” was given by Prof. Dr. Hamza Karčić (University of Sarajevo - Faculty of Political Sciences), whereas Prof. Dr. Adnan Velagić (Džemal Bijedić University in Mostar - Faculty of Humanities) spoke about “Talks in Karađorđevo and Tikveš in 1991: The Partition of Bosnia and Herzegovina or Slobodan Milošević's Double Political Game.” Dr. Amir Kliko (University of Sarajevo - Institute for Research of Crimes against Humanity and International Law) spoke on the topic “Croatian Community/Republic of Herceg Bosna: Institutional and Territorial Destruction of Bosnia and Herzegovina.” On the topic "Political and National Polarization in Bosnia and Herzegovina: Regionalization projects in 1991” spoke Dr. Jasmin Medić (University of Sarajevo - Institute of History).
The second session began with a presentation by Dr. Sabine Veladžić (University of Sarajevo - Institute of History) "Sketches from the parliamentary life of Bosnia and Herzegovina or on the characteristics of democratizing ethnocracy in government institutions in the late 1990s and early 1991", and continued with the presentation "Preparation for war: Intercepted telephone conversations and the Serbian leadership in 1991 ", which was presented by Dr. Hikmet Karčić (Institute for the Islamic Tradition of Bosniaks). On the topic "Bosnia and Herzegovina in the political projection of the Serbian Democratic Party 1990-1991. (between the disintegration of Yugoslavia and the break-up of Bosnia and Herzegovina)” spoke M.Sc. Edin Omerčić (University of Sarajevo - Institute of History), and about “The role of the Serbian Democratic Party in the occupation of Višegrad in 1992 and the crimes against Bosniaks” spoke Doz. Dr. Ermin Kuka (University of Sarajevo - Institute for Research of Crimes against Humanity and International Law).
The meeting was moderated by Dr. Sedad Bešlija.
