• About
    • Our Mission
    • Our Team
  • Projects
  • Film
  • Books
  • Latest News
    • Recent Posts
    • Events
  • Contact
  • Donate Now

Srebrenica Memorial Day

25th July 2015 by SoulofEurope in News

A recent letter to the Church Times recalling the events at Srebrenica twenty years ago. It is probably too much to hope that the considerable interest in Bosnia which Srebrenica evokes could continue, because Bosnia is broken, politically, chaotic and in danger of disintegrating, with the Serbian entity, the Republika Srpska, declaring independence.

Srebrenica Memorial Day

As published in the Church Times – July 2015

I am grateful for the generous coverage of the service at Westminster Abbey, recalling the events at Srebrenica twenty years ago (Srebrenica mother makes plea – 10th  July).  It is probably too much to hope that the considerable interest in Bosnia which Srebrenica evokes could continue, because Bosnia is broken, politically, chaotic and in danger of disintegrating, with the Serbian entity, the Republika  Srpska, declaring independence.

Every top-down initiative from the international community has failed in Bosnia. The latest was announced last autumn, when a reform plan was presented by the UK and German governments for removing some of the obstacles for integrating with Europe with promise of considerable funding. At the last moment this was rejected by the Bosnian Serbs.

Therefore a consortium of local NGOs is being set up to hold a National Conference on the future of Bosnia Herzegovina.  Politicians will be invited initially as observers. The purpose of the conference is to draw attention to the demands and needs of Bosnian citizens. Groups will be set up to look at proposals in detail. Six months later the conference will reconvene. This initiative will be led by local NGOs with the encouragement and support of the Soul of Europe, drawing on our experience of fifteen years in the Balkans.

In his bidding prayer at the Westminster Abbey service the Dean spoke of looking for ‘signs of hope, forgiveness and reconciliation’. This National Conference initiative represents such a sign of hope. We shall invite the Bosnian religious leaders to take part. Experience has shown that beyond fine words they are unwilling to be involved, but the Soul of Europe has learnt to persist.

 

The Revd Donald Reeves MBE

Article by: SoulofEurope

Tweet
Share
Pin it
Previous StoryConference Proposal: The Future of Bosnia Herzegovina Next StoryResurrection and Reconciliation for Bosnia

Leave A Reply: Cancel Reply

(this will not be shared)

(optional field)

No comments yet.

Recent Posts

  • Building a Good Europe
  • Ferhadija question posed in the House of Lords
  • Ferhadija – The Untold Story
  • The Inauguration Of The Ferhadija Mosque In Banja Luka
  • Winter Newsletter 2015
  • Resurrection and Reconciliation for Bosnia
  • Srebrenica Memorial Day
  • Conference Proposal: The Future of Bosnia Herzegovina

CATEGORIES

  • Recent Posts
    • Books
    • Miscellaneous
    • News
    • Newsletter
    • Projects

Tags

12 Cities Project 7 Cities Project Ammerdown Centre Awakening Soul of Europe Bach Banja Luka Bosnia Catholic Herald Review Chichester Cathedral Christmas Christmas 2011 Christmas 2012 Christmas News 2013 cross sector partnerships Doha Interfaith Dialogue Donald Reeves Face to Faith Ferhadija Mosque Festival of Bosnia Good Europe Inter-religious dialogue Managing Conflict Mediation Moral Imagination National Conference Norway Omarska Memorial Open Minds Organ Recital Oslo Peace-building Presentation Peacebuilding Peć Pejë Social Media Summer 2013 The Bosnian Consortium The Guardian The White House Time for Reconciliation Report University of Winchester Very Dangerous Man

ARCHIVES

  • June 2016
  • May 2016
  • December 2015
  • July 2015
  • June 2015
  • December 2014
  • March 2014
  • February 2014
  • December 2013
  • October 2013
  • July 2013
  • May 2013
  • March 2013
  • December 2012
  • November 2012
  • August 2012
  • June 2012
  • January 2012
  • December 2011
  • October 2011
  • September 2011
  • August 2011
  • July 2011
  • December 2010
  • October 2010
  • July 2010
  • July 2009
  • January 2009
  • December 2008

WHO ARE WE

  • Our mission
  • Our team
  • Get Involved
  • Contact Us

WHAT WE DO

  • Projects
  • Recent Posts
  • Film
  • Books

Our Partners

  • Jawaab
  • Motherlode Studio
  • Renegade Inc.
Soul of Europe 2015