The preservation of the cultural and historical heritage in Brčko District 

and the role of international organizations

Susan R. Johnson, Brčko District supervisor, recently visited the Commission to Preserve National Monuments to attend a meeting. The meeting was attended, in addition to Susan R. Johnson, Brčko District supervisor, by a staff member from the Office of the High Representative in Sarajevo; Amra Hadžimuhamedović, a member of the Commission; and Mirela Mulalić Handan, the Commission's Executive Officer.  The meeting took place on 11 March 2004 at 12.00 in the Commission's premises.  The purpose of Susan R. Johnston's visit was to review the implementation of Annex 8 in Brčko District, and in particularly the rehabilitation of the Brčko Town Hall and the Azizija mosque in Brezovo Polje. 

It was agreed as follows:

·         The Office of the High Representative in Brčko District would give its fullest support to the implementation of Annex 8 and would require the Government of Brčko District to undertake to carry out the rehabilitation of protected national monuments in an acceptable manner.  To this end, the Supervisor for Brčko will attempt to ensure that rehabilitation projects for the Azizija mosque in Brčko, the Kočić house, the Brčko Town Hall and other national monuments be drawn up and that their implementation be set in motion;

·         Cooperation between the Commission and the OHR office in Brčko District in regard to the integration of the cultural heritage into development plans and the process of return and reconciliation in Bosnia and Herzegovina will continue and indeed be stepped up;

·         Amra Hadžimuhamedović suggested that prominent scholars, artists and professionals who are not currently living in Brčko but are natives of the city be asked to contribute to defining the approach to resolving key issues concerning peace-keeping and the restoration of civic trust in Brčko District as well as sustainable development for that part of Bosnia and Herzegovina;

·         Amra Hadžimuhamedović also suggested that the Commission should mount an exhibition entitled «Cultural memory – a vanishing treasury» in Brčko in October or November 2004, immediately after the elections in Brčko District, in association with the Office of the High Representative.