Living through the siege of Sarajevo

1. Living through the siege of Sarajevo Selma Rizvic

2. Living through the siege of Sarajevo, Selma Rizvic, Graphics Hardware Workshop 2008 this was NOT my idea I’m not very diplomatic I was living in Sarajevo under the siege for 3.5 years I want to give you the context and my personal feelings

3. Who lives in Bosnia • before the war • Bosniaks (Muslims) – 44% • Bosnian Serbs (Orthodox) – 31% • Bosnian Croats (Catholic) – 17% • Others (Jewish, non declared...) – 8% • MIXED – no one-nation teritory Living through the siege of Sarajevo, Selma Rizvic, Graphics Hardware Workshop 2008

4. Who are Bosniaks • we are European Muslims • we are NOT white terrorists • Islam forbids suicide and killing innocent people • we respect all religions • we have many friends Catholic, Orthodox, Jewish, agnostic • some of our women wear veils, some wear mini skirts – matter of choice, not religious rule Living through the siege of Sarajevo, Selma Rizvic, Graphics Hardware Workshop 2008

5. How it all started • Yugoslavia – Federation of 6 Republics and 2 autonomous regions • dominated by Serbs • Serbs always had idea of Great Serbia • Milosevic – wanted to continue dominating over Yugoslavia Living through the siege of Sarajevo, Selma Rizvic, Graphics Hardware Workshop 2008

6. How it all started Living through the siege of Sarajevo, Selma Rizvic, Graphics Hardware Workshop 2008

7. Wars • Slovenia declared independence • 7 days war, no Serbs • Croatia declared independence • war • Serbs from Croatia joined Milosevic • occupied part of the country Living through the siege of Sarajevo, Selma Rizvic, Graphics Hardware Workshop 2008

8. War in Bosnia • referendum for independence - 70% voted YES • Serbs did not accept results • UN recognized independent BH • 1992 – aggression from Serbia + Bosnian Serbs • start of the siege of Sarajevo • GENOCIDE – all territories cleaned out of non-Serbs • 200 000 people killed, millions expelled Living through the siege of Sarajevo, Selma Rizvic, Graphics Hardware Workshop 2008

9. War in Bosnia • 1993 – Croats turned against Bosnians • war with two enemies • idea – to divide Bosnia between Serbia and Croatia • Bosniaks (Muslims) – to disappear Living through the siege of Sarajevo, Selma Rizvic, Graphics Hardware Workshop 2008

10. Sarajevo • 3,5 years of siege • no water, no electricity, no heating, no food • difficult to move through the city • I was crossing it every day going to work Living through the siege of Sarajevo, Selma Rizvic, Graphics Hardware Workshop 2008

11. Living through the siege of Sarajevo, Selma Rizvic, Graphics Hardware Workshop 2008

12. Sarajevo • airport - UN forces – maintaining the siege • humanitarian aid • half to Serbs • half to Bosnians • arms embargo • 10 000 people killed in Sarajevo, 1000 children Living through the siege of Sarajevo, Selma Rizvic, Graphics Hardware Workshop 2008

13. Why I say Bosnians • we were (and are) fighting for Bosnia – a country of equal rights for all nations and religions, no domination • we are Bosniaks, Serbs and Croats, but above all - Bosnians Living through the siege of Sarajevo, Selma Rizvic, Graphics Hardware Workshop 2008

14. How was the life under the siege • tough – life danger every second • wonderful spirit of resistance • reconsidering the real values in life • PROUD! Living through the siege of Sarajevo, Selma Rizvic, Graphics Hardware Workshop 2008

15. Intervention of NATO • after genocide • after 8000 people killed in 3 days in Srebrenica, UN protected zone • after many massacres of civilians in Sarajevo • after 3,5 years watching us dying • thanks to Americans Living through the siege of Sarajevo, Selma Rizvic, Graphics Hardware Workshop 2008

16. Dayton agreement • end of the siege, November 1995 • half country given to the agressors • message: GENOCIDE PAYS OFF! • created a monster of a country • 2 entities • 10 regions in one entity • 1 district Living through the siege of Sarajevo, Selma Rizvic, Graphics Hardware Workshop 2008

17. Dayton agreement Living through the siege of Sarajevo, Selma Rizvic, Graphics Hardware Workshop 2008

18. Present structure of the state • 1 government – state level • 2 governments – entity level • 10 governments – cantonal level • 1 government – district • too much administration • entities and nations can block every decision Living through the siege of Sarajevo, Selma Rizvic, Graphics Hardware Workshop 2008

19. OHR • Bosnia – a protectorate under the Office of the High Representative • High Representative • his Majesty, king of Bosnia • has authority to dismiss officials, change laws • not very democratic • has power to solve problems, but thinks it’s better that “our politicians agree”!? Living through the siege of Sarajevo, Selma Rizvic, Graphics Hardware Workshop 2008

20. Frustrations • problem is not solved – Serb entity still wants to join Serbia • war criminals NOT arrested • ICTY sentences – 15 years for genocide • I don’t believe in justice, democracy and human rights any more • we need visas to travel anywhere Living through the siege of Sarajevo, Selma Rizvic, Graphics Hardware Workshop 2008

21. Future • we believe in multiethnic country • Sarajevo, Tuzla, many cities in BH – good example • we are the healthy core of Bosnia and Herzegovina • we hope to win one day Living through the siege of Sarajevo, Selma Rizvic, Graphics Hardware Workshop 2008

22. Thank you for your attention! Long live Bosnia! Questions? Living through the siege of Sarajevo, Selma Rizvic, Graphics Hardware Workshop 2008