Our protest is based on the following facts:

1. In accordance with the great project of Greater Serbia (“all Serbs in one State “), Serbia and Montenegro carried out military aggression against Bosnia and Herzegovina, and in the occupied territories of the internationally recognized Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina committed the crime of genocide against Bosniak population.

2. The aggression against the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina and genocide against Bosniaks are the essence of the joint criminal enterprise conducted in the 90′s by Serbia and Montenegro.

3. The intent of these genocidal acts, based on Greater Serbia project, was to occupy the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and to attempt the extermination of Bosniaks, or their reduction to insignificant ethnic group.

4. The aggression against the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina and genocide against Bosniaks were planned by Serbia and Montenegro, and ordered from the respective political and military position and executed as planned, in a systematic and organized fashion.

5. The International War Crimes Tribunal (ICTY) found that:
Slobodan Milosevic “was a participant in a joint criminal enterprise, which included the Bosnian Serb leadership, whose goal and intentions were to destroy in part the Bosnian Muslims as a group “(ICTY, Prosecutor v. Slobodan Milosevic). Serbia was convicted by the International Court of Justice for not preventing genocide in Srebrenica in 1995. Serbia still has not gone through the process of dealing with crimes and responsibility from the past. Serbia still openly denies that genocide took place, a fact that was confirmed by the decisions of the International Criminal Tribunal for former Yugoslavia, International Court of Justice and several national courts.

6. Collaborators of the aggression, authorities and officials of a smaller entity in Bosnia and Herzegovina under the direct management, organization, command, participation and support of the state of Serbia and Montenegro occupied territory of the Republic Bosnia and Herzegovina and participated in genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes against Bosniak population.

7. A smaller entity in Bosnia, Republika Srpska, led by Radovan Karadzic, Momcilo Krajisnik, Biljana Plavsic and other war criminals was a direct result of aggression and genocide.

These are historical facts, proven by the scientific research institutions around the world, deeply etched in the minds of victims of aggression and genocide. Based on this information only, we consider it unacceptable and morally and politically harmful to the United Nations to allow the country responsible for the gravest crimes committed in the 90′s, guilty of starting four wars in the Balkans to be nominated for the position of the Chairman of the General UN Assembly.

Respectfully,

Haris Alibasic, MPA
President of the Congress of North American Bosniaks

Professor Emir Ramic
Director of the Canadian Institute for research of Genocide

On behalf of Bosniaks in North America, Australia, and the victims of genocide and ethnic cleansing we are writing to you as the ultimate authority accountable for the implementation of the Dayton Peace Agreement to prevent the legislative violations of human rights of Bosniaks in Diaspora regarding the census of population and property taxation in the smaller smaller entity of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Congress of North American Bosniaks (CNAB), Institute for Research of Genocide Canada (IRGC), Bosnian American Institute for Genocide and Education (BAGI)  and the Australian Council of B&H Organizations (ACBHO) strongly condemn the adoption of an amendment to remove article 48 of the proposed law on census of population and households, in B&H by the Joint Commission for Economic reform and Development of the Parliamentary Assembly of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Article 48 contained the important condition that the results of the ethnic structure of the population census of 1990 years be used in the formation of government until the full implementation of the Annex VII of the Dayton Peace Agreement, or until the completion of the return of refugees and displaced persons. This act represents a de facto legalization of the campaign of ethnic cleansing and genocide that was committed against Bosniaks between 1992 and 1995. Annex VII of the Dayton agreement is still largely ignored by politicians in B&H and the international community, including the Office of the High Representative (OHR), which marks the destruction of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the violation of basic human rights of returnees.

Mr. Inzko, we request from your office concrete steps to prevent the removal of article 48. Continued obstruction of Annex VII by the RS representatives lacks basic security and economic conditions for the return of Bosniaks to their estates in the Republic of Serbia which further means that the Dayton agreement is broken and the census, households and housing in Bosnia and Herzegovina can’t be implemented.

In this case, we ask you to protect the rights of displaced B&H citizens, from the actions of the representatives of the RS and the Bosniak representatives in Parliament, which due to petty political interests, compromised the return of displaced Bosniaks in the RS and their human rights in the territory of B&H. Removal of Article 48 reminds us of the war period when the victims of the genocide and aggression when Serbian troops forced the Bosniaks to forfeit property. The aggression on Bosnia and Herzegovina continues by political methods, while the representatives of the Bosniaks in BiH knowingly waive Bosniaks and Bosniak assets in the RS in favor of their political positions in the Federation.

We also ask from your Office to stop the anti-Dayton actions by the RS representatives regarding property taxation of Bosniaks in RS. The RS authorities used the current situation in which there is no common law on the entire territory of B&H on the taxation of property. They are abusing the legal and abusing this legal provision by not using the same tax rate for people living in the territory of small entities and for those individuals who have assets in the RS reside outside of the entity. Taking into account the geographical distance of the displaced Bosniaks in Diaspora, and the culture of bribery and corruption among the officials, the legal owners of property in the RS are victims of a fait accompli that prevents them from holding onto their property, which had already once been abducted during the aggression and genocide during the 1990s.

This political administrative method of completing the genocide is only possible because B&H and its state institutions do not have the proper authority in the smaller entity, and the leaders of the same consistently obstruct their work to prevent the state and all other bodies from establishing the normal functioning of the executive authorities with the aim of Euro-Atlantic integration in the NATO and the EU.

Because of political stagnation and incompetence of Bosniak politicians in B&H, the only hope for displaced Bosniaks is the Office of the High Representative, which has unfortunately been weakened over the last few years due to lack of international involvement and support. We ask you to stop this aggression against the expelled Bosniaks and to take all the steps, including the Bonn Powers, to prevent further aggression and ethnic cleansing of Bosniaks in the RS.

Respectfully,

Haris Alibašić, CNAB President
Emir Ramić, IRGC Chairman
Sanja Drnovšek, BAGI Chairman
Senada Softić-Telalović, ACBHO President

Dear Madam Secretary Clinton,

The Congress of North American Bosniaks (CNAB), an umbrella organization advocating on behalf of  Bosniaks in the United States and Canada, is very encouraged by your December 13, 2011 meeting with  His Excellency Zeljko Komsic, Chairman of the Bosnia and Herzegovina Presidency. Bosniak Americans and Bosniak Canadians are closely following the U.S. involvement in Bosnia and Herzegovina and continue to hope for a more active U.S. role in supporting democratic and constitutional reforms that are much needed for Euro-Atlantic integration. More recent news on the formation of the central government in Bosnia and Herzegovina may be viewed in the same light, and is in part a direct result of the United States government involvement in the process. It took the ruling parties grueling 14 months to negotiate and form the new government because of the opposition of the same destructive forces who are constantly diverging Bosnia and Herzegovina from its path to a better future. CNAB warned of the destructive policies of Milorad Dodik, and his nationalist and radical agenda aimed at destroying Bosnia and Herzegovina’s state institutions. In a recent interview to a Bosnian daily newspaper, the U.S. Ambassador Patrick Moon expressed his disappointment at Mr. Dodik’s destructive behavior and his  nationalist policies.

Bosnia and Herzegovina can only move forward with strong central government institutions and without populist nationalists leading the country into the policies of the past. CNAB representatives raised this very point at the meeting with Chairman Komsic in Washington D.C., on December 13, 2011. Among other issues discussed at the meeting was the need for comprehensive reforms including the need to revise Bosnia and Herzegovina’s constitution based on equal rights of all Bosnian citizens regardless of ethnicity or religious affiliation. The Constitution of the Republic of Bosnia-Herzegovina represents a great starting point for these reforms. These reforms are needed if Bosnia and Herzegovina is to successfully integrate into NATO and European Union. NATO membership for Bosnia and Herzegovina would be mutually beneficial as it would increase stability in the region and ensure Bosnia and Herzegovina’s path to EU membership and bring about long-term prosperity and peace. These are the same goals that you have so poignantly articulated in your public statement with President Komsic.

Bosnia-Herzegovina looks to the United States for leadership to bring about these changes. The United States has previously shown strong leadership in the past; it was the American direct advocacy and engagement of President Clinton’s administration that stopped Serbian atrocities in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and brokered the Dayton peace accords. For this, we are grateful but more must be done to ensure long term peace and stability. It is absolutely necessary for the United States to take a more forceful role to help reduce external and internal threats to Bosnia and Herzegovina’s independence and sovereignty. Constant inflammatory secessionist rhetoric from Bosnian Serb political leadership, constant legislative gridlock, and the undermined role of the Office of the High Representative are only some of the issues where the United States should take a lead to find the long term solutions.. We believe that it is also in vital United States interest that Bosnia and Herzegovina continues on the path to NATO and Europe, which would have a direct impact on long lasting stability in the entire region of southeast Europe.

Despite political challenges, Bosnia and Herzegovina has continually demonstrated that it is a key ally and friend with the US. This is evidenced with the fact that Bosnia-Herzegovina was one of the first  countries to sign the Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) with the United States; it cooperated with the United States on matters of security, counterterrorism, as well as prevention of drug and human trafficking. Bosnia and Herzegovina has also been a key partner with the NATO forces, in the United Nations Security Council, actively participating in missions in Afghanistan and Iraq, and Bosnian forensic experts helped US officials identify 9/11 victims, just to name few examples.

Dear Madam Secretary, please provide the leadership needed to help Bosnia-Herzegovina continue on the right path towards democracy, peace, stability, and successful integration into NATO and the European Union. CNAB stands ready to assist you with these efforts.

Respectfully,

Haris Alibasic, MPA
President of the Congress of North American Bosniaks

In a very productive and useful meeting, the parties discussed the issues concerning Bosnia and Herzegovina citizens in the United States and Canada, particularly issues regarding dual citizenship, concerns about property ownership of the diaspora  in the smaller entity of BiH, voter registration process and the need for work tenure transferability between  Bosnia and Herzegovina and United States and Canada.  Another topic of discussion was the current political stalemate in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the neeed for greater involvement of Bosnia and Herzegovina in supporting lobbying activities in the United States and Canada, cooperation with the State Department, the role of BiH in the U.N. Security Council, and the importance of NATO membership for Bosnia and Herzegovina.  CNAB also raised concerns about the lack of a unified educational system in certain parts of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

CNAB President, Mr. Alibasic highlighted the importance of activities of the Congress of North American Bosniaks, and the need to expand the membership of the United States Congressional Caucus on Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the Canadian Parliamentary BiH Friendship Group.  He also mentioned the importance of supporting Bosniak American Advisory Council for Bosnia and Herzegovina because of their presence in DC.

President Komsic praised the activities and engagement of the Congress of North American Bosniaks, emphasizing that CNAB works “systematically and through personal involvement” to promote the interests of Bosnia and Herzegovina in the states and communities in which they live. President Komsic also added that “all of Bosnia and Herzegovina can benefit greatly from the activities of the Congress of North American Bosniaks.”. He also expressed desire for further cooperation between institutions in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Congress of North American Bosniaks, along with the Bosniak American Advisory Council and the World Diaspora Association

 Mr. Semir Djulic informed president Komsic of activities surrounding the new Bosnian community center in Atlanta, GA. 

 Vice President, Mr. Custovic emphasized that Bosnia and Herzegovina needs to make more progress in the action plan for NATO membership.

 President Komsic stressed that NATO membership is one of the main priorities for Bosnia and Herzegovina.

 CNAB president, Mr. Alibasic thanked President Komsic for his support and presented him with the recent Grand Rapids proclamation regarding Bosnia and Herzegovina Statehood day and invited him to visit the cities of Grand Rapids, Charlotte, Atlanta, and other cities with significant presence of Bosnia and Herzegovina citizens.

On behalf of CNAB,

Kemal Hamulic, spokesperson

The Congress of North American Bosniaks (CNAB), an umbrella organization representing the interests of American and Canadian Bosniaks, welcomes the recent report submitted to the United Nations on November 15, 2011 by the High Representative, Mr. Valentin Inzko.

Mr. Inzko rightly points out that that smaller of two entities in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Republika Srpska is “continuing to combine legal and political activities that bring into question the state institutions, competencies and laws, as well as the authority of the high representative and UNSC resolutions.”  The biggest threat to long-term peace and stability is the worrying trend of current threats of secession by Republika Srpska’s (RS) politicians and their denial of war crimes committed by Serbian and Bosnian Serb forces during the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina.  To make matters worse, the Bosnian “Croatian Demoractic Union (HDZ)” leadership has also been undermining efforts within the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina to form a functioning government.  There seems to be no fear of consequences for any actions by these politicians from the Office of the High Representative (OHR), whose authority has been severely undermined by the lack of international reaction to these obstructionist threats.

Unfortunately, as CNAB pointed out on several occasions, the ascertainment that the destiny of Bosnian framework is up to the local politicians, is only partially acceptable because the international community, with the Dayton agreement, provided them with tools which they now misappropriate for nationalist gain, by spreading propaganda of fear and hatred in order to promote a secessionist agenda.  It is imperative to implement sound foreign policy to prevent the injustice that Bosnia has suffered and the tragedy that has happened to its centuries’ old tradition of tolerance, diversity, and coexistence. Bosnia and Herzegovina can and must exist as a multi-ethnic, democratic, and prosperous nation that is fully integrated in Europe and a future member of NATO.

The most glaring need and obstacle to Bosnia’s long term peace, progress, and stability are the constitutional reforms. Dayton Agreement stopped the war but has in the recent years become a hindrance to Bosnia’s path to Europe. Therefore, constitutional reforms must address all aspects of the Dayton agreement which do not help it meet the necessary conditions to join the EU. We believe that majority of Bosnia’s citizens wish to see a country that will have the adequate laws and institutions which will enable it to prosper economically and be fully integrated into the European Union. Constitutional reforms should guarantee equal rights for all of its citizens, but also eliminate the undemocratic process of ethnic voting that holds the central government hostage from implementing any reforms that would lead towards euro-Atlantic integration. One of the main obstacles to Bosnian democracy is the so called ethnic voting, which severely undermines the ability of Bosnia and Herzegovina to function as a state.

The Constitution of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina should serve as the basis for any reform. Even Bosnia’s educational system is fragmented along the ethnic lines and should be reformed to make sure the future generation of Bosnians will value equality, diversity and tolerance. There is also an often forgotten question of refugees who never returned to their homes. We believe that the new Bosnian government should pass laws to promote return of all refugees, including financing the cost of return.

From a security standpoint, the top priority needs to be the necessary reforms for eventual membership in NATO which would significantly weaken both internal and external threats to Bosnian sovereignty. It should also be noted that Bosnia has shown partnership and willingness to stand by the United States in its hours of need for cooperation and support of its strategic interests.

We urge the High Representative to use the Bonn powers to return Bosnian on the right track towards euro-Atlantic integration. We also request that the United States and the European Union provide full backing to the Office of the High Representative during these times in enforcing the reforms necessary to protect Bosnian sovereignty and ensure successful integration into the European Union and NATO.

On behalf of CNAB,

Hamdija Custovic

CNAB Spokesperson

Historically important day for relationship between Bosnia and Hezegovina and Canada

Mr. Brian Masse, Member of the Canadian Parliament and sponsor of the Srebrenica (remembrance) Genocide Day, which was adopted last year in the Canadian Parliament informed the Congress of North American Bosniaks, Canadian Branch that a Friends of Bosnia and Herzegovina Group has been formed in the Canadian Parliament.

The Friends of Bosnia and Herzegovina Group in the Canadian Parliament consists of:

Chair:  Mr. Dave Mackenzie, MP,

Vice Chair:  Mr. Brian Masse, MP,

Vice Chair:  Mr. Bernard Trottier, MP,

Executive Member (Treasurer):  Mrs. Nina Grewal, MP,

Executive Member:  Senator Raynell Andreychuk.

Group currently has 26 members

Special credit for the formation of the Group in the Canadian Parliament goes to H.E. Biljana Gutić-Bjelica, Ambassador Bosnia and Herzegovina in Canada, MP Nine Grewal and Dženita Hozo.

It is also important to emphasize that the formation of the Friends of Bosnia and Herzegovina Group was assisted by the Bosnian Community in Canada led by Congress of North American Bosniaks and Institute for Research Genocide, Canada.

The special assembly on Bosnia and Herzegovina in the Canadian Parliament will provide support to the Canadian Parliament with the necessary political and economic reforms in Bosnia and Herzegovina, to improve cooperation between  the two states. With this new establishment there is an aim to also improve cooperation between the two parliaments, and the present the values of Bosnia and Herzegovina in the Canadian society.

After the recognition of the Bosnian language in Canada, the ability to use the ethnic name Bosniaks in the Canadian political and statistical documents, the adoption of the Srebrenica Genocide resolution in the Canadian Parliament, the establishment of a parliamentary procedure regarding the genocide in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the formation of the Friends of Bosnia and Herzegovina Group in the Canadian parliament demonstrates a successful start, but the process of lobbying for the interests of Bosnia and Herzegovina in the Canadian cultural mosaic must continue.

Prof. Emir Ramic

President of the Congress of North American Bosniaks, Canadian Branch

Dear Members of the Committee on Conscience:

The Congress of North American Bosniaks (CNAB), the Institute for Research of Genocide Canada (IRGC), and the Bosnian American Genocide Institute and Education Center strongly protest the reporting by Michael Dobbs, a Committee on Conscience fellow, who openly questioned the classification of killing of more than 8,000 Bosniak civilians in Srebrenica as genocide. In his contribution to “The Mladic Files”, Mr. Dobbs shockingly stated the following in the post called “Defining Genocide:

“I must admit that I find it difficult to use the word genocide, which conjures up images of the Holocaust. “

It is appalling that anyone would question the use of the term genocide in this case, given that it has already been established by the International Court of Justice, as the largest case of genocide in Europe since WWII.  Of course, the Holocaust, in which more than 6 million Jews were killed by Nazi and Fascist forces was much greater in magnitude, but nevertheless the Srebrenica genocide fits the UN definition that genocide constitutes “the deliberate and systematic destruction, in whole or in part, of an ethnic, racial, religious, or national group.”  More than 8,000 Bosniaks were deliberately executed in Srebrenica in a matter of days because of their ethnic and religious identity. Furthermore, more than 30,000 were forcefully expelled.   Prior to the war, Srebrenica’s population was more than 70% ethnic Bosniak (Bosnian Muslim).  After the genocide, the population is now less than 1% with only a handful of families returning.

It is even more disappointing and shocking to us that the questioning of the term genocide in Srebrenica would appear on the official website of the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, an organization which we collectively admire and support. CNAB even published the announcement of the “Mladic Files” project and encouraged its members to spread the news.  Hence, it is very disheartening to us and all the Bosnian genocide victims whom we represent that we must once again defend the truth even to those who are supposed to help preserve it, the USHMM Committee on Conscience.  Even though you state on your website that “The views expressed are his own”, we strongly advocate that you have a moral responsibility to stop the open questioning of genocide because it is hurtful to the victims and undermines the integrity of your committee.  Just as it’s the case with Holocaust deniers, Srebrenica genocide and other genocide cases that occurred in Bosnia and Herzegovina cannot be questioned, as Srebrenica genocide is  one of the most documented and undeniable cases of genocide in modern history?

In conclusion, we believe it is your responsibility, according to the mandate found on your website (http://www.ushmm.org/genocide/about/ ) “to alert the national conscience, influence policy makers, and stimulate worldwide action to confront and work to halt acts of genocide or related crimes against humanity.”  One of the most important ways to prevent genocide is to stop its denial.  Thus, we respectfully ask that you remove Mr. Dobbs’ outrageous post from your website and prevent any future denial of genocide by people associated with the USHMM.  It is the least you can do to honor the victims and preserve the truth.

Sincerely,

Haris Alibasic, MPA, President
Congress of North American Bosniaks (CNAB)
www.bosniak.org

Prof. Emir Ramić, Chairman
Institute for the Research of Genocide, Canada (IRGC)
http://www.instituteforgenocide.ca/

Sanja Seferovic-Drnovsek J.D, MEd, Chair
Bosnian American Genocide Institute and Education Center (BAGI)
www.baginst.org

We are outraged and deeply saddened by this act of violence against the U.S. Embassy and the citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Bosnia and Herzegovina values the importance of the strategic partnership and the role that the United States has played in BiH, and the support BiH continues to receive from the United States. We urge the authorities to immediately investigate the and take necessary measures to bring to justice all those responsible.

Sincerely,

Hamdija Custovic, CNAB Spokesperson

Source: Columbia Daily Spectator

To the Editor:

Tuesday’s lecture by the genocide denier and president of the smaller of the two political entities of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Milorad Dodik, was a slap in the face to the victims of genocide. It is astonishing that Columbia would allow him the platform to spread his lies and propaganda regarding the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina, despite protests by victims of genocide and organizations like the Congress of North American Bosniaks, Bosniak American Advisory Council for Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bosnian American Genocide Institute and Education Center, and Institute for the Research of Genocide, Canada. It is maybe even more disturbing that he was accompanied by Darko Trifunovic, a well known genocide denier and leading Islamophobe in Europe, under the guise of academia. It seems that your honorable publication forgot to do the homework on this person and painted a rosy picture of his willingness to talk to the protestors.

Trifunovic is one of the main genocide deniers who, in a report published in 2002, accused the wives and mothers of Srebrenica of filing falsified reports about missing relatives and alleged that “less than 100 Muslim soldiers” had been executed at Srebrenica. Trifunovic also tries to portray himself as a “terrorism” expert and has on numerous occasions tried to promote the Serb nationalist agenda and justification of their aggression towards Bosnia by painting many Bosnian Muslims as members of the so-called “white al Qaeda.” It is a disturbing trend that he and another controversial “scholar,” Srdja Trifkovic, have tried to promote as part of the global anti-Muslim agenda. It should be noted that Srdja Trifkovic was denied entry into Canada earlier this year when he was scheduled to give a lecture at the University of British Columbia due to his role as a genocide denier and a spokesperson for Radovan Karadzic, the butcher of Bosnia. Karadzic is being tried at The Hague for war crimes, genocide, and crimes against humanity, among other charges.

It was disappointing to hear that many Bosniak Americans were denied entry to the lecture being held by Dodik even though they received confirmation of their registration. It is difficult to believe that discrimination did not take place given that so many of the protesters were denied access to confront the Republika Srpska president.

Lastly, I would like to draw attention to the perceived pro-Serbian bias that was apparent in the organization of this event and the high likelihood of conflict of interest, given that Columbia received significant Serbian funds in the establishment of the “Njegos endowment.” Dodik’s lecture at Columbia can therefore be seen as a favor to Serbian nationalists for their generous financial contribution.

Respectfully,

Hamdija Custovic

Spokesperson for the Congress of North American Bosniaks

John H. Coatsworth, Ph.D
Dean, School of International and Public Affairs
Columbia University
14th floor, MC 3328
New York, NY 10027

Timothy Frye , Ph.D.
Director, The Harriman Institute
Marshall D. Shulman Professor of Post-Soviet Foreign Policy
Columbia University

Dear Dr. Coatsworth and Dr. Frye:

We are writing to you on behalf of 300,000 Bosnian Americans and 50,000 Bosnian Canadians to protest the planned event organized by The Harriman Institute and  SIPA on October 25, 2011, featuring Milorad Dodik, the current President of Republika Srpska (RS).

Milorad Dodik is a genocide denier and tirelessly promotes ethnic division within Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH). In April of 2010, Mr. Dodik gave an interview to the Belgrade newspaper “Vecernje Novosti” openly stating that “Bosnian Serbs will never accept that the 1995 Srebrenica massacre of some 8,000 Muslims was genocide.” Mr. Dodik went further to say that “We cannot and will never accept qualifying that event as genocide.” By denying genocide, Mr. Dodik is actively working against the peace and reconciliation process within BiH. Both the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY) have ruled that what happened in Srebrenica was genocide. In addition, the U.S. Congress passed H.R.199, which defined the crime as genocide.

Dodik’s morally reprehensible rhetoric on Srebrenica and his obstructionist attitude towards Bosnia as a unified state threatens the peace, stability and prosperity of not only BiH but also Southeast Europe. Dodik actively supports the defense of Ratko Mladic, the indicted war criminal currently standing trial at The Hague for the Siege of Sarajevo and the genocide in Srebrenica.

Dodik actively encourages a lack of accountability for war crimes committed by the Serbs during the aggression on BiH in the early 1990′s. Furthermore, Dodik has worked to undermine the authority and proper functioning of national intuitions, including the BiH state court system responsible for war crimes prosecution. Mr. Dodik continues to menace the country with the possibility of an illegal secession by the RS, the consequence of which includes the possibility of renewed violence in a society still deeply traumatized by war.

Ultimately, the same parties under Dodik’s leadership within the Republika Srpska who were responsible for the deliberate destruction of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and who were then rewarded in the Dayton Agreement with territorial and political concessions gained through genocidal violence, are now actively working to impair the reintegration of the country as a unified, sovereign state.

We strongly object to Columbia University providing a platform of legitimacy to Milorad Dodik and urge that his invitation be withdrawn.

Thank you.

Sincerely,

Haris Alibasic, MPA, President
The Congress of North American Bosniaks (CNAB)
www.bosniak.org

Ajla Delkic
Executive Director
Bosniak American Advisory Council for Bosnia and Herzegovina (BAACBH)
www.baacbh.org

Prof. Emir Ramić, Chairman
Institute for the Research of Genocide, Canada (IRGC)
http://www.instituteforgenocide.ca/

Sanja Seferovic-Drnovsek J.D, MEd, Chair
Bosnian American Genocide Institute and Education Center
www.baginst.org

Dear Mr. Portnoy,

We are writing to you on behalf of 300,000 Bosnian Americans and 50,000 Bosnian Canadians that we represent to protest the planned event on October 21, 2011 showcasing Milorad Dodik,  the current president of the smaller of two entities in Bosnia and Herzegovina. He is known for creating negative publicity in and around Bosnia and Herzegovina, and most notably as an open denier of genocide committed by Serbian and Bosnian Serb forces against Bosniaks during the war and aggression against Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Milorad Dodik threatens the peace, stability and economic prosperity of the entire Balkans region by purposely undermining Bosnian state authorities and threatening “secession” whenever it suits him politically. The Republika Srpska entity was created by the Dayton agreement through war time policies of genocide and ethnic cleansing while under the leadership of the now imprisoned war criminal Radovan Karadzic. Milorad Dodik’s rhetoric of genocide denial and obstructionism is very similar to Karadzic and remains a threat to long term peace and stability.

Milorad Dodik repeatedly denies genocide against the Bosnian people and said in an April, 2010 interview for a Belgrade newspaper “Bosnian Serbs will never accept that the 1995 Srebrenica massacre of some 8,000 Muslims was genocide.” Furthermore, he added that “We cannot and will never accept qualifying that event as genocide.” By denying genocide, Dodik is effectively blocking all attempts at peace and reconciliation in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the region. The Srebrenica massacre has been ruled as genocide by two international courts — the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia at The Hague (ICTY). In 2005,the United States congress passed the House resolution 199 recognizing the Srebrenica genocide and demanding that war criminals be brought to justice.

Your company’s social responsibility statement reads that you “are committed to operating in a manner that promotes the business goals of our clients while advancing workplace diversity, environmental sustainability and the well-being of the communities in which we work and live.” By allowing a genocide denier to promote his agenda in a public forum sponsored by your company, you are causing an incomprehensible anguish to thousands of Americans of Bosnian decent who lost thousands of loved ones through a campaign of genocide, ethnic cleansing, and torture.

We sincerely hope you will listen to our serious concerns and look forward to hearing back from you.

Sincerely,

Haris Alibasic, MPA, President
The Congress of North American Bosniaks (CNAB)
www.bosniak.org

Prof. Emir Ramić, Chairman
Institute for the Research of Genocide, Canada (IRGC)
http://www.instituteforgenocide.ca/

Sanja Seferovic-Drnovsek J.D, MEd, Chair
Bosnian American Genocide Institute and Education Center
www.baginst.org

cc: Elyse Blazey, Public Relations Manager, SNR Denton

cc: Frederick D. McClure, Partner, Washington office, SNR Denton

cc: Caryn L. Chalmers, Partner, Chicago office, SNR Denton

The Congress of North American Bosniaks (CNAB) welcomes the decision of the Constitutional Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) ruling that the controversial Citizenship Act is unconstitutional. The Court ruled that the Bosnia and Herzegovina Parliament has six months to change the law which takes away the Bosnian-Herzegovinian citizenship to those citizens who have also become citizens of another country, except for those holding citizenship of countries with whom BiH has signed bilateral agreements on such issues. CNAB has repeatedly warned that the Citizenship Act  discriminates against Bosniaks in the Diaspora because of the fact that the majority of them were forced to leave the country during the Bosnian war. Enforcement of the Citizenship Act in 2013 would have devastating consequences for relations between Bosniaks living outside of Bosnia and Herzegovina and their homeland.

This decision is extremely important in its intention to encourage more serious and long term solution in relation to the Bosnia-Herzegovinian diaspora. More must be done to improve the relations of the Bosnian government and the large number of citizens who now live in other countries. It is appalling that the state of Bosnia and Herzegovina, which has an extremely high percentage of citizens who live outside of its borders, does not have an established Ministry for Diaspora relations which is necessary to adequately address the needs and concerns, especially of those citizens who were forced to leave as refugees.

CNAB will continue to lobby the state institutions in Bosnia and Herzegovina as well as all relevant institutions in the United States, Canada, and the European Union to call attention to the problems faced by Bosnians living abroad. Furthermore, we will continue to voice our concerns with human rights violations against Bosniaks in the Republika Srpska entity of Bosnia and Herzegovina, including obstruction to the return of refugees as well as the lack of progress in development and implementation of key reforms that would create the necessary conditions for the return of refugees to their homeland.

On behalf of CNAB,

Hamdija Čustović, CNAB spokesperson
www.bosniak.org

Today marks the 10th year of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, what represents one of the most senseless and devastating crimes known to modern civilization, when nearly 3,000 innocent people were killed by terrorists who hijacked three airplanes and used them as missiles to carry out their attack against the United States and its citizens.

On this sad day, CNAB remembers and honors the victims and hopes for a future without terrorism, aggression, genocide, and war. As victims of war and genocide, we know what it is like to lose our loved ones and what can happen when an ideology of hatred goes unchecked. 

Just like we remember the victims of the Bosnian genocide, we hope that doing so will ensure that we prevent such acts in the future, by speaking out against all forms of  hatred and promoting peace and tolerance.

We condemn all forms of terrorism, and acts of aggression, especially those done in the name of God or  religion.   We believe that the best way to honor the victims is to work to promote peace and tolerance in the world, but also to bring all those responsible to justice.

CNAB Board of Directors

The Court ruled that “under Article 7(1) of the Statute, General Perišić is charged with aiding and abetting war crimes and crimes against humanity perpetrated in Sarajevo and Srebrenica, Bosnia, between 1993 and 1995 by the Army of Republika Srpska, known as the VRS.” It is an evidence of the Serbian government involvement and support for war and crimes committed in the name of Greater Serbia. Serbia must eventually accept its responsibility for role in the genocide and aggression against the sovereign nation of Bosnia.

We hope that the other war criminals, including Radovan Karadzic and Ratko Mladic will be swiftly prosecuted and convicted so that justice will be served and truth preserved regarding the aggression on Bosnia and Herzegovina and the genocide against the Bosniak people.

Hamdija Custovic,  CNAB Spokesperson

References:

http://www.icty.org/x/cases/perisic/tjug/en/110906_summary.pdf

As a reminder the war crimes committed by Serbian forces in Bosnia, resulted in genocide against the Bosniak people and mass murder of innocent civilians, including children, women and elderly on a scale not seen since the Holocaust in Europe, with over 100,000 dead civilians, 50,000 raped women, thousands of sacred and historic monuments destroyed, and more than a million displaced from their homes.

Recently arrested war criminal Gen. Mladic, who has been hiding for 16 years, directly commanded, as the general of the Main Staff, the Bosnian Serb army during the invasion of UN “safe area” Srebrenica in July 1995, resulting in the genocide and murder of more than 8,000 Bosniak civilians and expulsion of more than 30,000 others. Former commander of the Serb paramilitaries currently before the International Criminal Tribunal is charged with orchestrating genocide not only at Srebrenica, but also in a number of other Bosnian municipalities: Bratunac, Foča, Ključ, Kotor Varoš, Prijedor, Sanski Most, Vlasenica and Zvornik. He is charged with the crimes committed during the three year long siege of Sarajevo.

Another war criminal Radovan Karadzic, currently on trial at the Hague war crimes tribunal authorized the attack on Srebrenica. The arrest and trial of both will hopefully give some peace to the families of those who were killed and whose lives have been destroyed.

We demand that Swedish Television immediately apologizes for the mistake and stop airing this Serbian propaganda.

Sincerely,

Haris Alibasic, MPA, President
Congress of North American Bosniaks
www.bosniak.org

Prof. Emir Ramic, mr.sc. President
Institute for Research of Genocide Canada
www.instituteforgenocide.ca

We expect swift prosecution of this monstrous war criminal in Bosnia and Herzegovina. He managed to escape for more than 15 years. This arrest follows the news of another Bosnian Serb, Branko Popic, who was arrested in Florida, United States of America, for lying to the Immigration authorities of his involvement in the Genocide and extradited to Sarajevo to face justice. We are also pleased that another suspect, Bozidar Kuvelja, was arrested in the Bosnian town of Cajnice. We are pleased with the governments of Canada and USA continiously seeking war criminals who may be hiding in those countries. To date, a total of 14 suspects have been convicted of war crimes in the Srebrenica Genocide by the he UN war crimes tribunal for the former Yugoslavia in The Hague and another 12 by the Bosnian war crimes court with 11 others awaiting verdict.

Justice has been too slow considering that more than 8,000 Bosniak civilians were brutally murdered in the area of Srebrenica only, with more than 100,000 Bosnian citizens killed, many more wounded, and over 1,200,000 expelled from their homes. We call upon the international community to act with a higher sense of urgency in arresting all suspected war criminals and extraditing them to Bosnia and Herzegovina to face justice.

Furthermore, we urge the authorities to interrogate the suspects in order to bring about more arrests. More needs to be done by the Serb authorities and those Serbs who witnessed war crimes but have yet to come forward. It is imperative that the entire community comes together to make sure war criminals are not roaming the world as free men. There can be no peace and reconciliation in Bosnia and Herzegovina until war criminals are brought to justice.

Haris Alibasic, MPA, President
Congress of North American Bosniaks
www.bosniak.org

Prof. Emir Ramic, President
Institute for Research of Genocide Canada
www.instituteforgenocide.ca

Sanja Seferovic-Drnovsek J.D, MEd, Chair
Bosnian American Genocide Institute and Education Center
www.baginst.org

On the occasion of the shameful verdict issued by the Appeals Chamber of the International Criminal Tribunal for former Yugoslavia (ICTY) against the former spokesmen for the ICTY, the current International Expert Team Member of the Institute for Research of Genocide Canada (IRGC), and the recipient of the 2010 CNAB Award, Florence Hartmann, IRGC and the Congress of North American Bosniaks (CNAB) would like to jointly issue the following press release.

Florence Hartmann has been charged by the ICTY because she has released two confidential pieces of information from the ICTY during the criminal proceedings against Slobodan Milosevic. She made the confidential information available in her book “Peace and Punishment” and the article  “Hidden key evidence of genocide”, published by the Bosnian Institute in London, United Kingdom. After her departure from office, Florence Hartmann uncovered that the court and the ICTY Appeals Chamber, in the Slobodan Milosevic case approved a government request that the Supreme Defence Council during the Milosevic trial maintains a confidential status to protect the national interests of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.

Federal Republic of Yugoslavia later used this to prevent the release of these records in proceedings before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in the case of Bosnia and Herzegovina against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia for genocide, which directly reflected in the negative result of the verdict and challenged the genocide on the entire territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is not fair, ethical nor moral for the ICTY Appeals Chamber to condemn Florence Hartmann due to the fact that she had publicly disclosed the truth of the secret documents related to the involvement of the highest state and military leadership in Yugoslavia for genocide in Bosnia and Herzegovina during the 1992-1995 aggression.

IRGC and CNAB wonder whether any of the responsible for the confidential documents will be prosecuted. These documents directly incriminate the highest state and military leaders of Serbia and Montenegro for the crime of aggression and genocide in Bosnia and Herzegovina. When asked why she wrote the book ¨ Peace and Punishment and the article ¨ the hidden key documents about the genocide ‘, Florence Hartmann said:

  “For me,  this is an issue of freedom of speech and the right to transparently inform the public about what is a matter of public interest. It cannot be said that international justice is not a matter of public interest – it is, in fact, a matter of humanity. “Five judges of the ICTY Appeals Chamber  willingly become accomplices to manipulate the authorities in Belgrade with the sole aim to encourage the other judicial body, the ICJ, to make the same mistake, because there is no access to documents.”

Florence Hartman’s intention was based on events, facts and documents describing the struggle that the ICTY had between the interests of justice and politics. IRGC and CNAB would like to thank Florence Hartmann in her fight for truth about the crimes of aggression against Bosnia, genocide against Bosniaks and for justice for the victims of these crimes.

Prof. Emir Ramić, President
Institute for the Research of Genocide Canada (IRGC)
http://www.instituteforgenocide.ca/

Haris Alibašić, MPA, President
The Congress of North American Bosniaks (CNAB)
www.bosniak.org

Mr. Haris Alibašić, president of the Board of the CNAB and member of the Michigan Chapter of CNAB stated that “This is very important to Bosniak American community in Michigan and in other states to honor and remember victims of tragedy in Bosnia and Herzegovina and elsewhere in the world. We hope that recently arrested war criminal, general Ratko Mladić and his political leader Radovan Karadžić will be swiftly prosecuted and convicted so that justice will be served and truth preserved regarding the aggression on Bosnia and Herzegovina and the genocide against the Bosniak people.”

Last year, State of Michigan House of Representatives adopted the House resolution proclaiming July 11, 2010, as Srebrenica Remembrance Day and the week of July 11, 2010, as Bosnia and Herzegovina Tribute Week in the state of Michigan.

On behalf of CNAB,

Hamdija Custovic, Spokesperson

Copy of the Senate Resolution SR70

In the proclamation, Mayor Foxx saluted the Bosniak Americans living in Charlotte, the largest city in North Carolina, who have successfully integrated into the diverse Charlotte community. Furthermore, he stated that the 16th anniversary “raises awareness of the tragic suffering of the Bosnian people and honors and remembers those who died as a result of the policies of ethnic cleansing and genocide”.  Mayor Foxx thus proclaimed July 11, 2011 as Srebrenica Remembrance Day and the week of July 11, 2011 as the  Bosnia and Herzegovina Tribute Week.

On behalf of Bosniak families living in the state of North Carolina and the Congress of North American Bosniaks, Hamdija Custovic, CNAB spokesperson and President of the Carolinas Chapter of CNAB, sent a letter   to Mayor Foxx in which he thanked the mayor and the city of Charlotte for embracing the Bosniak community  and honoring the genocide victims.

On behalf of CNAB,

Hamdija Custovic, Spokesperson

City of Charlotte Srebrenica Genocide Proclamation

The democratic values of liberty and justice for all have since then become known as universal values,  so that the citizens of the world see the United States as a model of freedom and equality, and hope that they can have the same freedoms and aspirations for a better life in their respective corners of the world. Bosniaks are no exception to these aspiration, because this day serves as a somber reminder of the painful struggles they, like their American friends, went through for the independence of Bosnia and Herzegovina.  Bosnia  still faces a  difficult road ahead for a lasting peace, stability, and economic prosperity for its citizens.   We call for action to ensure that the same democratic principles that unite so many Americans on this day of celebration are applied in Bosnia and Herzegovina in order to bring about long term peace and stability for all of its citizens.

Happy 4th of July!

CNAB Board of Directors

Reaction to the joint letter by the UK Foreign Secretary William Hague and US  Secretary of State Hillary Clinton about future progress for Bosnia and Herzegovina.

 The Congress of North American Bosniaks welcomes the joint op-ed message of unity and commitment published in newspapers throughout Bosnia and Herzegovina on June 7, by the U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and U.K. Foreign Secretary William Hague. In the mixed message of concern, hope, determination and optimism, the foreign ministers warned of the dangers of extreme nationalism coming from the Republika Srpska entity and called for the international community to re-focus their attention on Bosnia and Herzegovina and their path to EU and NATO membership. We also applaud the renewed commitment to protect the sovereignty of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the rights of its citizens to a functioning government and economic prosperity. CNAB has, on several occasions, called attention to the transgressions of the Republika Srpska representatives and their agenda to undermine Bosnian sovereignty and seek secession from Bosnia and Herzegovina. They continue to abuse the Dayton Agreement without fear of consequences. 

We must, however, call attention to a missed opportunity by the foreign ministers to fully connect the dots that are the root cause of instability in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Serb nationalism in Bosnia does not operate in a vacuum, but is in fact, part of a larger nationalist apparatus with strong and direct ties to Serbian government. We must not forget that the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina was not a civil war, but a war of Serbian aggression upon a UN chartered and recognized independent and sovereign state of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Slobodan Milosevic orchestrated the campaign for creation of a greater Serbian state by actively funding and supporting military efforts against non-Serb populations in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Serbian army actively participated in military campaigns in Bosnia alongside the military formations of the illegal regime of Republika Srpska, created by Radovan Karadzic, who is now on trial for war crimes and genocide at The Hague. Although these evil men are no longer in power, finishing their careers behind bars, the ideology still remains and is symbolized by the entity that was created through an organized campaign of genocide and ethnic cleansing. It should not come as a surprise that the representatives of that entity are now doing all they can to undermine the stability and sovereignty of the country they fought against.

Foreign ministers are correct that too much international focus has been given to other areas of the world, particularly Middle East and Afghanistan over the last decade, allowing the Serbian nationalist apparatus to recharge and refocus their efforts to “finish the job” that Radovan Karadzic and Ratko Mladic began, and carve up Bosnia and Herzegovina under the very nose of the European Union and the United States. Lack of stronger international military presence in Bosnia has severely undermined the ability of the international community to enforce the Dayton agreement and protect the Bosnian sovereignty accordingly. Furthermore, the Office of the High Representative (OHR) continues to be shunned by the Bosnian Serb politicians and undermined by the EU officials who do not provide the political willpower necessary for OHR to do its job. This was particularly evident in the latest drama caused by Milorad Dodik who threatened to hold a referendum opposed by the OHR, yet powerless to prevent due to lack of political support in the EU. It was not until EU Representative Catherine Ashton showed up unexpectedly that Dodik decided to put the efforts on hold, coming out victorious because he successfully undermined the OHR, and came out in a stronger position than before. The appeasement of the Serb nationalists in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia remains the biggest threat to peace and stability in the region.

 Furthermore, we are distressed by the perceived assessment of progress that the countries of the western Balkans, particularly Serbia, are making toward euro-Atlantic integration, because that “progress” has been made at the expense of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Serbia has for years harbored and protected Karadzic and Mladic and have only given them up in order to gain concessions from the EU. Furthermore, Serbia continues to violate human rights of its minority Bosniak populations in Serbia, particularly in the Sandzak region. Most alarmingly, the Serbian people are still in denial over Serbian atrocities against Bosniaks and other non-Serb populations. According to the latest poll results announced by the Serbian National Council for Cooperation with ICTY, more than half of the Serbian population is opposed to the arrest of Ratko Mladic, the “Butcher of Bosnia”. These actions and polls do not indicate a significant shift in Serbian ideology, but more of a pragmatic diplomatic move to trade the war criminals for political concessions. The logic is that by placing the blame to only a few individuals, Serbia will avoid any legal consequences for the Serbian state or even the RS entity in Bosnia and Herzegovina. CNAB strongly believes that the main conditions for Serbian and Croatian membership in the EU or NATO must be predicated on the success of Bosnia and Herzegovina and  its foremost entry into the EU. The nightmare scenario would be a Serbian membership in the EU and its ability to then influence EU authorities to further destabilize the state institutions in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

 Likewise, it is evident that the extremist ultra-nationalist ideology is alive and well in Republika Srpska at all levels of government. The deterioration of direct involvement of the United States and the European Union in keeping the lid on Serb extremists has led to fostering an environment where genocide denial is open and unapologetic, and war criminals are being defended from the tax revenues of Republika Srpska. High Representative Inzko rightfully condemned as unacceptable that Republika Srpska officials have set aside €50,000 for defense of Ratko Mladic. This means that genocide victims who returned to their homes in Republika Srpska, including mothers of Srebrenica, are now funding the defense of a despicable war criminal.

It is imperative that the message of commitment to Bosnia and Herzegovina is more than just rhetoric and is followed up by concrete strategic and tactical steps to ensure progress on path to euro-Atlantic integration. It is clear that those steps will not be taken by the Republika Srpska representatives without a strong international presence to pressure them to give up on their ideology of hatred and accept the fact that they must coexist in a multi-ethnic sovereign and independent Bosnia and Herzegovina. Without the enforcement, the message will fall on deaf ears and we will continue to witness further deterioration of stability and increased nationalist tensions. Any attempt to break up Bosnia and Herzegovina will lead to more violence and bloodshed, yet the status quo remains unacceptable because it unfairly holds the Bosnian citizens hostage to agendas that do not have a place in the 21st century. Stronger U.S. and EU involvement is needed to remove the barriers to peace and reconciliation.

 Last month, CNAB sent a letter to the members of the United States Congressional Caucus on Bosnia and Herzegovina calling for constitutional reforms and an international conference to resolve the issues plaguing Bosnia today. Such efforts must recognize that the Dayton Agreement was never properly enforced and that it needs to be reformed based on civil and democratic principles, not on politics of ethnic divisions and hatred. Reforms must establish a society where human rights are guaranteed as part of the international mandate, and no ethnic group or minority feels left out of the process. Only through such reforms will Bosnia and Herzegovina be able to take the necessary steps for euro-Atlantic integration and take its rightful place in the  international community.

 On behalf of CNAB,

 Hamdija Custovic, CNAB spokesperson

The Congress of North American Bosniaks, an umbrella organization representing the interests of 350,000 American and Canadian Bosniaks, the Institute for Genocide Research Canada (IRGC) and the Australian Council of Bosnian Herzegovina Organizations (ACBHO) request that the ICTY Court remove Judge Flügge from his role in the proceedings against Ratko Mladic, or in any case dealing specifically with charges of genocide. We are surprised that Judge Flügge would be once again assigned to a case dealing with charges of genocide due to his unapologetic comments in 2009 in the German weekly magazine “Der Spiegel” in which he openly questioned the classification of Srebrenica genocide.

 According to the “Der Spiegel” article, Judge Flügge shockingly stated that “the term genocide to define these crimes is unnecessary” instead preferring to refer to it as “mass murder”. He claimed that there is no reason to differentiate between “a group that is murdered for their nationality, religion, ethnicity, or race, as is regulated by the Hague Statute” and a group that “happens to be gathered at a specific location”.

 CNAB requested a complete retraction of the statement made by Judge Flügge because of the fact that the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) has already confirmed, in several cases including the 2007 ruling against Serbia and Montenegro, the classification of the murder of more than 8,000 Bosniaks in Srebrenica as genocide. This fact has also been recognized by organizations and governments across the world, including the U.S Congress in resolutions 199 and 134 on genocide in Bosnia-Herzegovina. Judge Flügge is therefore unable to show impartiality to the case and was in a clear violation of The Hague’s Rule 15(A). His statement also directly violated previous ICTY rulings which confirmed that the atrocities committed against Bosniaks in Srebrenica constitute genocide, in accordance with the definition from the Geneva Convention of 1949. On July 9, 2009, CNAB made the request from ICTY to remove Judge Flügge from the Karadzic case, which they did in September of 2009. We welcomed this news and assumed the matter put the rest until this latest resurrection of assignment of Judge Flügge to another high profile genocide case.

 Given that Judge Flügge has not retracted his statements concerning the nature of the Srebrenica genocide crimes, he is not fit to serve as a presiding judge of such a high profile case. The arguments are still the same because the evidence is clear that because he did not unambiguously stand behind the previous ruling of the ICTY regarding the nature of the Srebrenica Genocide, Judge Flügge is unable to show impartiality to the case and is in violation of The Hague’s Rule 15(A):

 “A Judge may not sit on a trial or appeal in any case in which the Judge has a personal interest or concerning which the Judge has or has had any association which might affect his or her impartiality. The Judge shall in any such circumstance withdraw, and the President shall assign another Judge to the case.”

 For these reasons, CNAB requests that the Court removes Judge Flügge from his role in the proceedings against Ratko Mladic, or in any future case dealing specifically with charges of genocide. It is unacceptable that, one day after the capture of the monstrous war criminal Ratko Mladic, the victims of genocide have to deal with a judge who does not even recognize the true nature of the atrocities that claimed the lives of their loved ones.

Let us conclude with the words of honorable Theodor Meron, former presiding judge of the ICTY from his speech deliver in Potočari on 11 July 2005 at the commemoration of the 10th anniversary of the Srebrenica genocide:

 “By seeking to eliminate a part of the Bosnian Muslims [Bosniaks], the Bosnian Serb forces committed genocide. They targeted for extinction the 40,000 Bosnian Muslims living in Srebrenica, a group which was emblematic of the Bosnian Muslims in general.

 They stripped all the male Muslim prisoners, military and civilian, elderly and young, of their personal belongings and identification, and deliberately and methodically killed them solely on the basis of their identity. The Bosnian Serb forces were aware, when they embarked on this genocidal venture that the harm they caused would continue to plague the Bosnian Muslims.

 The Appeals Chamber states unequivocally that the law condemns, in appropriate terms, the deep and lasting injury inflicted, and calls the massacre at Srebrenica by its proper name: genocide. Those responsible will bear this stigma, and it will serve as a warning to those who may in future contemplate the commission of such a heinous act.”

Sincerely,

Haris Alibašić, President
The Congress of North American Bosniaks (CNAB)
www.bosniak.org

Prof. Emir Ramić, President
Institute for the Research of Genocide Canada (IRGC)
http://www.instituteforgenocide.ca/

Senada Softić-Telalović, President
Australian Council of BiH Organizations (ACBHO)

The Congress of North American Bosniaks (CNAB), on behalf of Bosniaks in the United States and Canada, welcomes the news of the arrest of war criminal Ratko Mladic, who served as a general of the Bosnian Serb army during the aggression on Bosnia and Herzegovina. As Radovan Karadzic’s right hand man he commanded the Bosnian Serb army in conducting systematic campaigns of genocide, crimes against humanity and indiscriminate destruction in Bosnia and Herzegovina, against all non Serbs. These war crimes resulted in genocide against the Bosniak people and mass murder of innocent civilians, including children, women and elderly on a scale not seen since the Holocaust in Europe, with over 200,000 dead civilians, 50,000 raped women, thousands of sacred and historic monuments destroyed, and more than a million displaced from their homes.

Gen. Mladic, who has been hiding for 16 years, directly commanded, as the general of the Main Staff, the Bosnian Serb army during the invasion of UN “safe area” Srebrenica in July 1995, resulting in the genocide and murder of more than 8,000 Bosniak civilians and expulsion of more than 30,000 others.  Radovan Karadzic, currently on trial at the Hague war crimes tribunal authorized the attack on Srebrenica. The arrest and trial of both will hopefully give some peace to the families of those who were killed and whose lives have been destroyed.

It is important that the arrest of Ratko Mladic is not used for political gain by Serbian and Bosnian Serb politicians to obtain concessions from the international community, particularly the European Union.  These arrests are only a long overdue obligation by the Serbian government but the process of accountability and long term stability must not stop here.  We demand that the following steps be taken to further peace and long term stability in the region

-       Serbia needs to unequivocally recognize the aggression against Bosnia and Herzegovina from 1992 – 1995 under the regime of Slobodan Milosevic, who died while on trial for genocide and crimes against humanity in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo.

-       Serbia must continue to cooperate with the war crimes extradition requests and arrest all suspected war criminals

-       Serbia must revoke all extradition requests of Bosnian citizens, whose aim is to spread the blame for the war and equate aggressors and victims. There can be no peace or reconciliation in the region until Serbia accepts full accountability for its actions without passing the blame to others.

-       Serbia must stop all transgression of sovereignty against Bosnia and Herzegovina.  Serbian government continues to support Serb nationalist rhetoric in Bosnia and Herzegovina, indicating that its long term aspirations toward Bosnian territories are still part of the national agenda.

Ratko Mladic must be extradited to the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY) and swiftly prosecuted so that justice will be served and truth preserved regarding the aggression on Bosnia and Herzegovina and the genocide against the Bosniak people.

On behalf of CNAB

Hamdija Custovic
Spokesman of the Board of the Directors of CNAB

We support last week’s assessment of the Office of the High Representative (OHR) that the RS representatives are to blame for the instability,that the referendum law is a violation of the Dayton agreement and that corrective action should be taken to eliminate any threats to sovereignty of Bosnia and Herzegovina guaranteed in that agreement. We are however, disappointed and dismayed with the decision by the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton to hold unilateral talks with Milorad Dodik who had already refused to withdraw the referendum law after previous talks with the EU High Representative Valentin Inzko. This decision only furthers the agenda of Republika Srpska representative because it provides illegal legitimacy to their “concerns” about the Bosnian state institutions. It also further paralyzes the executive powers of the Office of High Representatives to ensure compliance with the Dayton agreement. Instead of enforcing the Dayton Agreement, the European Union chose to appease Milorad Dodik and provide him with a photo opportunity that treats him like a head of state by holding unilateral talks without presence of Bosnian state representatives.

We demand immediate action be taken to stop all unilateral talks and that urgent disciplinary action be taken to remove from power all those who continue to undermine the sovereignty of Bosnia and Herzegovina by denying allegiance to her state institutions. Furthermore, it is unacceptable for the Serbian president Boris Tadic to comment on the internal affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina and certainly an insult that he congratulated Milorad Dodik for the agreement. It only serves as a reminder of the close relationship that Slobodan Milosevic and Radovan Karadzic had while they orchestrated the aggression on Bosnia and Herzegovina and committed genocide against the Bosniak people. Now, Tadic and Dodik look to complete what was started by their predecessors by utilizing political levers to legitimize an aggression on a UN charter sovereign country of Bosnia and Herzegovina and legalize the ethnic cleansing and genocide campaigns against the Bosniak people that led to the creation of Republika Srpska entity.

CNAB and CBHOA are informing the public that we are taking specific steps to address a long term solution to the continued political stalemate that is instigated by Bosnian Serb representatives as part of their agenda to gain concessions from the European Union. The independence and sovereignty of Bosnia and Herzegovina are not a bargaining chip and should not be violated by anyone, and that includes the EU representatives, whose actions to hold unilateral talks with Milorad Dodik are a clear violation. The sovereignty of Bosnia and Herzegovina must be a reality, and not degraded to the point of symbolism whereby the reality does not match what is guaranteed by the United Nations charter and the Dayton agreement. CNAB has recently sent a letter to the honorable members of the Congressional Caucus on Bosnia and Herzegovina in the United States Congress regarding the political stalemate. We have since taken action through appropriate channels in Washington to initiate a resolution condemning the violation of Bosnian sovereignty and the Dayton agreement, and calling for an international conference on Bosnia and Herzegovina that will address the long term democratic and constitutional reforms of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Such reforms would focus on protection of Bosnian sovereignty, reformation of all state institutions based on democratic principles of government based on civil rights and not ethnic divisions, and ensure the viable enforcement mechanisms are in place to defend the agreement. We can no longer sit idly by while Milorad Dodik , Boris Tadic, and other Serb politicians continue to make a mockery of international law and violate the Dayton agreement.

We urge all Bosnian American and Bosnian Canadians to join us in these efforts and contact your congressional and parliamentary representatives to express grave concerns about the unacceptable violation of international law. Bosnia and Herzegovina needs us now more than any time after the war. We defended Bosnia then and we will defend her now.

Hamdija Custovic, Spokesperson
Congress of North American Bosniaks (CNAB)

Senada Softic-Telalovic, President
Council of Bosnia and Herzegovinian Organizations in Australia (CBHOA)

To the Honorable Members of the Bosnian Caucus in the United States Congress:

On behalf of the Congress of North American Bosniaks, I am writing to express my concern regarding the current political stalemate in Bosnia and Herzegovina. As an organization, we represent more than 300,000 proud Americans of Bosniak descent many of whom live in your districts. The majority of us came to this country as refugees, as a result of the Serbian war of aggression on Bosnia and Herzegovina following Bosnia’s declaration of independence in 1992. After the fall of communist Yugoslavia, Bosnia and Herzegovina was recognized by the United States and the international community following a certified referendum vote as a democratic, sovereign nation based on its historical borders, with equal rights for all of its citizens. Unfortunately, the vulnerable young democracy fell victim to the politics of hatred organized by the brutal Serbian dictator Slobodan Milosevic and his proxies Radovan Karadzic, Ratko Mladic and other Serb extremists and war criminals operating in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Consequently, hundreds of thousands died as victims of the Bosnian genocide that began exactly 19 years ago in April of 1992. More than 15,000 civilians perished in Sarajevo alone, thousands of women systematically raped across the country, and more than 8,000 people were slaughtered by Serb forces in a span of just a few days during the Srebrenica genocide.

With the memories of war still fresh, Bosnians are forever grateful to the United States and the Clinton administration for stepping in at a time when few had the courage or political will to help end the war with military intervention and negotiate an agreement in Dayton in 1996. As a result of the war, millions were displaced all over the world and have since struggled to find the normalcy needed to return to their previous homes. This includes more than 300,000 Bosnians who now reside in their new homeland of United States but who still deeply care about the country of their birth and the relatives who live there.

The main challenge to post-Dayton Bosnia is the obvious lack of democratic conditions and human rights, particularly in the Republika Srpska entity and the fear of a return to violence. These fears are legitimate given the return of ultra-nationalist rhetoric by the leading Serb politicians in Bosnia, most notably Milorad Dodik, who continues to defy the international community and obstruct the roadmap for Bosnia and Herzegovina for euro-Atlantic integration, memberships into the European Union and NATO. These actions are a result of severe deficiencies in the implementation of the Dayton accords which ended the war. Milorad Dodik and his supporters choose to defy and ignore the Office of the High Representative which was established as a European regulatory body in the Dayton accords, and purposely use extremist nationalist politics to paralyze the country in order to further the same agenda and roadmap that were drawn up by Milosevic and Karadzic.

The Serbian extremist agenda included and still contains the following summary of objectives: 1) conduct genocide and ethnic cleansing of 49% of territory of Bosnia, and 2) secession and annexation of those territories by Serbia. They accomplished the first objective through violence and obstruction of the process for return of refugees through intimidation and hateful rhetoric. The second objective is now being led by Milorad Dodik by undermining Bosnian sovereignty, obstructing the process for peaceful reconciliation, and refusing to participate in meaningful reforms that would unite the citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina regardless of ethnic or religious affiliation. Their most recent provocative act is the passing of the so called “referendum” act by the RS parliament which blatantly refuses to recognize the authority of the Bosnian courts. High Representative Valentin Inzko proclaimed this act to be illegal according to the Dayton agreement and international law. The United States and its NATO and European allies should not allow Bosnia to be taken down a perilous road once again with actions of nationalist extremists.

We urge the United States government to take a significantly more active role and not allow hatred and injustice to prevail. The policies of appeasement have proven to be historically detrimental and we cannot afford to let it happen again. The majority of Bosnian citizens just want the same things that the American people already have: to live peacefully in a democratic society with equal rights for all regardless of ethnic background or religion, to prosper economically through integration in Europe and the global economy, and to ensure long-term peace and stability through EU and NATO membership. According to the State Department, these goals remain of key strategic interest to the United States, but not enough is being done tactically to facilitate progress.

Contrary to what Milorad Dodik and other extremists want us to believe, reaching these goals is not an impossible task. We believe these are universal goals that can be accomplished through a process facilitated by the international community, most notably active engagement of the United States and the European Union. There are several key steps that need to be taken:

1. Organize an international conference for constitutional and democratic reforms in Bosnia and Herzegovina (similar to the original Dayton conference); This idea was also recently proposed by Congressman Michael Turner (R-OH),

a. Reforms should focus on voting principles based on equal rights of all citizens and eliminate voting based on ethnic lines that undermine the democratic institutions ,

2. Establish a clear roadmap and institutions for real enforcement of reforms and steps towards euro-Atlantic integration,

3. Ensure stability and security and facilitate the return of refugees to avoid ethnically divided territories.

As respected members of the Congress and proven friends of the people of Bosnia and Herzegovina through your membership in the Bosnian caucus, we ask you to take up this cause and immediately sponsor an effort to address the political stalemate in Bosnia and Herzegovina, thus ensuring hope for long-term viability, peace and stability for all of its citizens.

We thank you in advance and offer our assistance as representatives of the Bosnian American community. We would be happy to meet with you to discuss the proposals above in more detail.

Sincerely,

Haris Alibasic, MPA
President of the CNAB Board of Directors