Meeting in the Building of the Government of Republika Srpska

On 22nd March 2004, a meeting was held in the building of the Government of Republika Srpska, which was attended by:

-         The Minister of Culture and Sports in the Government of Republika Srpska, Mr. Gojko Savanović with his associates,

-         The Minister of Space Planning and Environment in the Government of Republika Srpska, Mr. Mensur Šehagić with his associates,

-         The members of the Commission to Preserve National Monuments of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Dr Ljiljana Ševo and Dubravko Lovrenović,

-         The representative of the OHR – Deputy High Representative for B&H, Mr. Vadim Kuznetsov.

The meeting agenda comprised two issues:

1.       The request of the Commission to Preserve National Monuments of B&H to the Government of Republika Srpska to enter on the priority list the Architectural Ensemble Mehmed-pasha Kukavica Mosque and Moslem Religious Secondary School (medresa) in Foča (Srbinje) in order for urgent protection measures to be taken;

2.       Cooperation of Entities' Ministry of Culture and Sport, and the Ministry of Space Planning and Environment with the Commission to Preserve National Monuments regarding the implementation of Annex 8. 

Dubravko Lovrenović introduced the present to the initiative of the Commission to Preserve National Monuments of Bosnia and Herzegovina that the Government of Republika Srpska should provide initial funds for taking urgent measures for protection of Architectural Ensemble Mehmed-pasha Kukavica Mosque and Moslem Religious Secondary School (medresa) in Foča (Srbinje). The Chairman to the Commission reminded the present to the letters, which the Commission sent to the Prime Minister of Republika Srpska, Mr. Dragan Mikerević, on 21st January 2004, to the member of the Presidency, Mr. Borislav Paravac, on 29th January 2004, and to the Prime Minister Mikerević and competent Ministers Savanović and Šehagić on, 15th March 2004. The letters requested urgent earmarking of appropriate funds and taking urgent measures for protection of this sacral structure, which was mined on 28th May 1992.

The member of the Commission, Dr Ljiljana Ševo, reminded the competent Ministers that the Ministry of Education and Culture within the Government of Republika Srpska (namely, the Minister Savanović) promised to provide funds for rehabilitation of the church belonging to the Vozuća Monastery, upon the suggestion from Mr. Paravac, and upon direct approval from the Prime Minister Mikerević.

The Minister Savanović disapproved of this, with the explanation that the action in question would disturb the organization of intervention between the Entities regarding the protection of monuments, and requested from the Government of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina to provide for the church in Vozuća, whereas the rehabilitation of the Mehmed-pasha Kukavica Mosque would be a responsibility of the Government of Republika Srpska. Namely, the competent Ministry in the Government of Republika Srpska is disposed to earmark the funds for preparation of the design. More precisely, the Ministry would provide the funds amounting to approximately 10.000 KM once the design has been completed. The members of the Commission to Preserve National Monuments were of an opinion that formal legal provisions could not and should not obstruct the implementation of Annex 8, and that the cooperation of the Entities regarding the protection of monuments complies with current regulations.

In order to overcome the existing situation, a meeting was scheduled between competent Ministries from the Governments of the Federation of B&H and Republika Srpska, at the end of March or beginning of April 2004 in Sarajevo. Ministers Grahovac and Mehmedagić reasserted their inclination to such a meeting.