Visits to Municipalities: Šipovo and Mrkonjić Grad

The Commission visited Šipovo and Mrkonjić Grad municipalities during the 15th session.

The meeting in Šipovo Municipality was held on 09 July 2004 at 10:00. The meeting was attended by the Commission members and associates and by Zdravko Trivunčić, Deputy Mayor; Jadranko Ivić, Head of cadastre department,  Mirjana Radmilo, officer for regional planning; Gojko Vidović, police officer for municipality services; and Ilija Miličić, President of citizens' association «Vitorog». The mayor was not able to attend the meeting due to previously scheduled meeting in Banja Luka.

The Commission’s members introduced those present with the nature of the authority, modus operandi and rules of procedure of the Commission, the way in which proposals to designate properties as national monuments were submitted and the implementation of decisions. They laid particular emphasis on the need to observe the provisions of the law whereby all monuments on the Provisional List of National Monuments of B&H, the monuments for which the petitions had been submitted to the Commission or for which the Commission had adopted the decision on proclamation, enjoyed the highest level of protection and whereby the Entity ministries were responsible for issuing permits for their rehabilitation. The Provisional List of National Monuments of Bosnia and Herzegovina include 777 properties and it was composed by the previous complement of the Commission to Preserve National Monuments. This Commission had been in charge from 1996 to 2001, with the UNESCO support. Those present were also informed about the activities of the Commission concerning national monuments at risk from illegal construction, inexpert reconstruction, lack of maintenance or other forms of destruction or dilapidation, and that pursuant to the Criminal Code, such actions or omissions may be the subject of criminal charges. They were also informed about the principle of transparency, which guided the work of the Commission, and the publishing rules for the decisions and other acts of the Commission.

The method and forms of cooperation were set out in detail. Municipal representatives confirmed that they would cooperate with the Commission members and Secretariat as required by the law. It was confirmed that the Commission Secretariat qualified staff members would be provided with all the necessary information from the municipal cadastral records, land registry, archives, and regional planning documentation, when preparing the documentation required for adopting a decision to designate properties as national monuments. The municipal authorities will also provide the Commission staff members and associates with assistance when inspecting the sites of monuments, and when identifying possible additional sources of information on the properties in question.

All decisions adopted by the Commission will be forwarded to the municipal courts, which will check the land registry for charges against the plots relating to the Commission's decisions, after which the municipal courts will forward the necessary data to the municipal cadastral office so that information on the protection regime may be entered on the cadastral plan for each individual cadastral plot. Regulation plans and other regional planning documentation are inapplicable to the extent that they contravene the provisions of the Commission's decisions, which are final and binding.

It was made clear that the Commission adopts its decisions to designate properties pursuant to its jurisdiction, and that it has no funds available for the reconstruction of national monuments, but that it may approach the relevant state and entity institutions with a recommendation that funds be allocated for the protection of the monuments at greatest risk, and may also approach foreign donors. The Commission has established the list of the most endangered monuments in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and initiated the international campaign in order to collect the funds for protection of three national monuments: Mehmed-paša Sokolović bridge in Višegrad, fortress in Stolac and fortress in Jajce.

The Commission is also responsible for international cooperation in the field of cultural heritage protection, ranging from cooperation with Interpol for properties illicitly exported from the country to proposing monuments for inclusion on the World Heritage List or the WMF World Monuments Watch List of the 100 most endangered properties and drafting and implementing international conventions and treaties.

Dubravko Lovrenović stated that archeological find (church), church Ćifluk in Grahovci and Soko town in Pliva were included on the Provisional List of National Monuments of Bosnia and Herzegovina, however the petitions to designate a property as a national monument had never been submitted from the area of this municipality.

Ljiljana Ševo mentioned that there was more significant historical and cultural monument on the area of Šipovo municipality besides the above-mentioned, and that the Commission expected the petitions to designate those properties as national monuments to be submitted by the representatives of Šipovo Municipality.

Ilija Miličić informed those present about activities of the citizens' association «Vitorog» concerning ethnology and mountain climbing and about its workshop for production of objects using traditional handicraft. He pointed out that 264 localities had been recorded, but no activities had been taken for their protection. From the left side of the road Jajce – Šipovo, at the very entrance of the town, there are ruins of an city from the Roman period. These ruins were found while investigating a sonde. During the 80's, the local population used to find gold rings and jewellery at this site.  In addition to that, Soko grad is a very significant, namely the course of the Sokočnica River, which has been practically untouched for the last 200 years. The Hrid, more exactly Sveto brdo (Holy Mountain), located near the Janja River spring, with incised inscription from the Roman period, is very interesting too. There is also a „salt path “leading from Split, Livno, over Šipovo – where a large rest home for caravans was situated. Recently, during the construction of the main sewer, a crypt was discovered. So far, there is no information on the period from which this crypt originates, but it is assumed that it is a Greek crypt. The bones from the crypt are stored in the workshop. There is also the Glogovac Monastery, which dates from the 18th century. At the entry into Glogovac, there is the fortress from Illyric period, with large number of broken peaces of ceramics, and approx. 250 ethnic and cultural and historical exhibits is stored in the workshop, as well. A new premise for storing of the exibits is a necessity, until financial resources are provided for opening of the Homeland museum or establishing an institution, which will be responsible for the said exhibits.

Ljiljana Ševo drew attention to significance of Šipovo during the classical period, and to the hypothesis that the wide area of Šipovo was potential archaeological find. When it comes to discovering of some findings, it is always necessary to include experts – the findings are exceptionally valuable, but their value is reduced if a place of finding, depth and the archaeological layer are not accurately established. In order to have a scientific character, a collection of exhibits needs, for each exhibit, to have specified a precise location, depth of finding, as well as other information necessary for forming a wide archaeological picture. Disregarding financial problems, the local staff has at their disposal the experts from the RS Institute for the Protection of the Cultural, Historical and Natural Heritage of the Republic of Srpska and the Museum of the Republic of Srpska, and it is necessary to establish cooperation with them.

Ilija Miličić drew attention to the established cooperation with the Museum of the Republic of Srpska and that they had been told to save the findings discovered during the works at the main sewage site or similar. Establishing of an institution for protection of cultural and historical heritage or providing of funds for the work of some non-governmental organization is an urgent issue at this moment.

Zdravko Trivunčić mentioned that the Municipality budget was 1,500,000 KM, having no foreseen funds for heritage protection, even though municipalities had supported heritage protection in different ways.

Dubravko Lovrenović emphasized that the new Law on Protection of Heritage at the level of Bosnia and Herzegovina should regulate legal providing of funds in the municipal budgets for protection of heritage, in accordance with their capabilities. This Law should be adopted by the end of this year.

Amra Hadžimuhamedović pointed out that after a petition to designate a property as a national monument had been submitted to the Commission, the procedure of documents collecting was accelerated, and property automatically became protected either for the period of one year or until adoption of final Commission's decision, whatever came first. The Government of the Republic of Srpska is obliged to ensure the funds for heritage protection, and duty of all experts from RS Institute for the Protection of the Cultural, Historical and Natural Heritage of the Republic of Srpska and the Museum of the Republic of Srpska is to respond to call and conduct inspection of significant localities.   

After the meeting, a visit was made to Soko grad in Pliva and Mužić site.

The meeting in the Mrkonjić Grad Municipality was held on 10 July 2004 at 10:00. Besides the Commission's members and associates, the meeting was attended by  Đurađ Podraščanin, President of the Municipal Assembly; Slobodan Udovčić, Mayor; Predrag Kokeza, Head of the Commission for Religious Issues; Radenka Milašinović, Head of the Cadastre Department; Gojko Grabež, Associate – Cadastre Department and Veselin Maoduš, Officer for City Planning. Tina Wik was not present at the meeting.

Ljiljana Ševo informed the present that on the Provisional List of National Monuments of Bosnia and Herzegovina, from the area of Mrkonjić Grad Municipality, were: Kizlar-aga mosque, parish church of St. Phillip and Jacob, as well as parish church of St. Elijah the Prophet in Liskovica. The Commission prepared petitions in order to designate the House of ZAVNOBiH (Territorial Antifascist Liberation Council of Bosnia and Herzegovina), Kizlar-aga mosque, mosque in Rijeka, Đerzelez turbe and stećak tombstones in Baljvine, as national monuments.  From the area of this Municipality,  the Commission had adopted Decisions to designate Museum of the first ZAVNOBiH session, including permanent museum exhibit and interior equipment;  the site and residues of the architectural ensemble - Hamidija mosque (Mosque in Rijeka, Riječka mosque, Rička mosque); and archaeological area – Stećak tombstone in Baljvine as national monuments.

Ms. Ševo mentioned that the process of drawing up of a new Law on heritage protection at the State level was in progress. With Commission’s support, the Working Group was formed consisting of Ministry of Civil Affairs’ representatives, entity Ministries for Culture and City Planning. The new Law should introduce a budgetary item for heritage protection at the level of Bosnia and Herzegovina, due to the lack of Commission’s own funds for implementation of its decisions at the present.

Amra Hadžimuhamedović pointed out that the properties which were protected, according to any of the above-mentioned and the Law on Implementation of Commission’s Decisions had to be reconstructed (in the case they were damaged or destroyed).

The reconstruction cannot be endangered, not even when the properties are located on potential archaeological find, when there is a need for archaeological expeditions. Those archaeological expeditions cannot be, in any way, the reason for stoppage, postponement or prohibition of reconstruction works. Ms. Hadžimuhamedović gave the example of Atik mosque in Bijeljina, where a similar situation had been solved on satisfaction of all sides involved.  She emphasized that the Commission was in charge for designation the movable and real heritage as national monuments, and noted valuable movable properties (books, sculptures, paintings, old coins, and old furniture) in the area of Mrkonjić Grad Municipality.  Ms. Hadžimuhamedović explained that the term „petition“ had been established  pursuant to Annex 8 of the General Framework Agreement for Peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina and practically represented a request.

Đurađ Podraščanin drew attention to the valuable movable property in the area of Mrkonjić Grad Municipality, which disappeared during the war activities in the autumn 1995. The Municipal Assembly Work Program for the current year foresees two enactments in the area of heritage protection, as follows: Decision for establishing of properties having characteristic of cultural and historical monument and program for protection of those properties. These acts are prepared in cooperation with RS Institute for the Protection of the Cultural, Historical and Natural Heritage of the Republic of Srpska. Together with the Commission, the Municipality should make a list of structures to be nominated for proclamation as the national monuments, however, the problem is revitalization and maintenance of these structures.

Ljiljana Ševo noted that Municipality representatives might submit the petitions on proclamation of area (natural and cultural heritage and townscape/landscape ensemble) the national monuments. Ms. Ševo explained that national monument was a property of significance for the State of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Slobodan Udovčić informed about Municipality budget amounting to 3,810,000 KM out of which approximately 1.5 % was intended for culture and sports.  Projecting of budget resources for heritage protection for the following year is planned. War damage in the area of the Municipality amounts to 106,000,000 KM. This Municipality is one of the biggest municipalities in Bosnia and Herzegovina, spreading in the area of 679.000 m2, however very lightly settled.

Dubravko Lovrenović emphasized that the new Law on heritage protection at the level of B&H should have regulated legal providing of funds for the purpose of protection of heritage in the municipalities budgets, in accordance with their capabilities. This Law should be adopted by the end of this year.

Amra Hadžimuhamedović, at the request of Vadim Kuznetsov, actualized the issue of the site and residues of Kizlar-aga's mosque, as this area is used as a parking lot. Ms. Hadžimuhamedović emphasized that, concerning the regime of protection, the Municipality should have forbidden parking on this location. The Municipality is obliged to fence this area, as per the current Law in the Republic of Srpska.

Slobodan Udovčić stated that due to this case, the Council of the Islamic Community in Mrkonjić Grad had brought charges against the Municipality in front of the Home for Human Rights, which passed judgment on the Municipality to allow the Islamic Community to place the fence. The Municipality is ready to submit planning-technical conditions for fencing to the Islamic Community, but it is necessary to decide whose obligation is to execute the fencing. 

Amra Hadžimuhamedović underlined that decisions adopted by the Home for Human Rights, obligated all parties involved, however it was necessary to follow instructions and decisions of the Commission to Preserve National Monuments, because the Home for Human Rights was not authorized for execution of Annex 8. This is the issue of heritage protection, for which the Commission to Preserve National Monuments is in charge. However, it would be a large step towards establishing of reconciliation and carrying out of a Peace Agreement, if the Municipality placed the fence in order to protect this monument.

After the meeting, the site and residues of Kizlar-aga's mosque and Parish church of St. Phillip and Jacob were visited.