(47) Bosnia twenty years later a story from Mostar

(Mostar)

1) Do you remember where were you when you realized the war was imminent? What town and what location in the town? – City of Mostar April 3rd 1992 after explosion next to the Yugoslavian Army base on the North side of the city.

2) Do you remember where you were when the war broke out, specifically? – Home watching TV with the videos of shooting in Sarajevo.

3) Where were you when the war came to your town? Were you at home, relatives, friends, work? – Home because my parents would not let me go to school any more.

4) The most memorable event of the war for you was? - In December of 1993 I helped little 6 year old girl cross the mountain to reunite with her mom and sister that were getting ready to leave Bosnia and go to England because her older sister was injured and she needed to have surgery to save her arm. I was able to locate them after the war here in US.

5) What made you hopeless during the war? – Constant bombing and no will for compromise from either side.

6) What gave you hope during the war? -

7) Did you lose anyone close to you during the war? – Yes I lost my father in July of 1993.

8) Were you wounded during the war? Where were you wounded? Anyone close to you wounded? – Yes I was wounded 3 times during the war. I was wounded in my left arm in June of 1992, my back and left shoulder in August of 1993 and both of my legs in September of 1993.

9) Your biggest loss during the war was? – My father.

10) What was the hardest part about the war? – Uncertainty and indecisiveness of world community

11) Did you leave the country during the war? – No I left country in September of 1997 so that was almost 2 years after the war was over.

12) 20 years later, what do you think of what happened? – Our enemies just changed the methods but the goal is still the same.

13) Are things better or worse than what you expected 20 years later? – Things are better because at least we have some kind of a independence that we did not have before and at least now our representatives are involved in the politics and they are representing us. Before 20 years we did not know what was going on and that’s why some of the things happened to us.

14) Do you think war will return to BiH? – Maybe unless world community takes necessary steps to remove political factors that are causing all problems. Dayton “peace” agreement is the biggest problem because it rewarded the aggressor for genocide and aggression on BiH. We need to revise Dayton agreement because things changed since it was signed. Dayton agreement did what it was intended to do “Stop the war” but now it’s causing more problems than anyting.

15) What do you think the future of BiH will be? – Very bright once young people take more responsibility and decide to get involved in political movements.

(46) Bosnia twenty years later a story of a Bosnian in Germany

(East German GDR flag)

1) Do you remember where were you when you realized the war was imminent? What town and what location in the town? I was working in Germany in a textile factory in the east.

2) Do you remember where you were when the war broke out, Specifically? In Germany, A fitter, the ex-DDR, metal molding, for concrete tanks, for water BRD

3) Where were you when the war came to your town? Were you at home, relatives, friends, work? I working in Germany still most my family was here with me.

4) The most memorable event of the war for you was? Persecution and ... kill ... the lamb, those who will not they give themselves, under the boot of the occupier

5) What made you hopeless during the war? isolation from Europe, who have various disabilities, the Bosnians, contributed to, the aggressor, to make, what more damage, according to BH

6) What gave you hope during the war? Hope that peace would come and I could return.

7) Did you lose anyone close to you during the war? in 5 houses in the neighborhood I am from, 100 people are missing or were killed in those homes.

8) Were you wounded during the war? Where were you wounded? Anyone close to you wounded? No, not wounded.

9) Your biggest loss during the war was? Too many to count.

10) What was the hardest part about the war? Genocide and being in Germany

11) Did you leave the country during the war? Yes, I was gone

12) 20 years later, what do you think of what happened? the UN and the EU, in the company, with Serbia, under the table, they made a plan to disperse the BH because it contained much percent of Islam, and forcibly so, the trio, to be the Christianity of which is Islam has DVI third, larger and stronger than Islam.

13) Are things better or worse than what you expected 20 years later? situation is completely upside down. Because liars are still pushing to hang the economy, to be scattered, not returned to their postobine, because not all killed, and when it finishes, it will not be able to, continue to lie, and so filled pockets, reluctantly

14) Do you think war will return to BiH? Dayton will not voluntarily leave, lapanje that they do. Gradual transition, the regular, civil constitution, the UN člans, No. 174, should not be, the use of force. If you choose to force, to maintain, non-working sites, "the wedge wedge, broke out." And as the Bosnians, much harder pegs than those in the vicinity has a show. Only it went, primarily, the culture, that the UN and the EU, requested from us, and the Dayton, dragged on until today. - And finally

15) What do you think the future of BiH will be? The future is not in power! In a civil constitution RBH, not good, would not approve it, the various Courts of the World, only it did not suit, liars, from the 1990s, so it goes well today, Dayton liars who only think of, to be filled, non-working pockets. However, they soon filled their pockets, but it's cool, real estate and chattels, which are in the registry, no water in them. And they do not return because they had the intention to return, to take credit for a fair economy!

(45) Bosnia twenty years later a story of Bratunac, Srebrenica and loss

(Potocari Srebrenica)

1) Do you remember where were you when you realized the war was imminent? What town and what location in the town?

I was only 4 years long and my family and me were in Bratunac, my hometown before war, located only 3-4 miles from Srebrenica. We lived in the city center when military entered the town and started searching the houses and occupying the town. We were next house to ours, my grandparents house. Even though we had a clue that something is about to happen, we didn't leave in time because grandparents were stubborn and for them, army meant "friends and protection", not this time clearly.

2) Do you remember where you were when the war broke out, Specifically?

Adding on question 1's answer, we convinced my grandparents (dad's side) to leave and heard that nearest safe location was Tuzla, about 100 kilometers from where we were, Bratunac. Killing started and all sorts of torment to Bosniak ( Muslim ) families. Ethnic cleansing started and Serbs army started splitting males from females. I remember that everybody was taken to the local soccer field. We however packed and decided to leave even though we were told to stay. My grandparents, few neighbors, dad, mom took our car and 7 or 8 of us started the adventure to try to get out of town.

3) Where were you when the war came to your town? Were you at home, relatives, friends, work?

As I said. We left Bratunac taking nothing along, just trying to get out of hell and find a safe city accompanied with few neighbors and my dad's parents.

4) The most memorable event of the war for you was?

Right before we left our front yard, a group of Serb soldiers came in looking for my uncle and dad because they had significant roles in city, uncle was a lawyer and my dad was working for some company as a director for international something... anyways... They came searching through the house and since it was close to a huge Muslim holiday where you are supposed to make a sacrifice to God by killing a sheep, one of the soldiers came to me, grabbed me, and put a knife under my neck and said to my grandfather how he doesn't need to sacrifice a sheep, I would be a great sacrifice instead. Luckily, he didn't do it!

5) What made you hopeless during the war? 6) What gave you hope during the war?

Unfortunately I wasn't old enough to become hopeless or to know what that is. I was anxious to see my dad coming home alive every 15 days and I listened to the radio, and tv, when it would work, to hear about our forces and about their progress. We as a kids played war, that was the only game we knew, and it was the game that everybody around us played as well. Although, we didn't quite realize it was not a game until someones father or sister or brother wouldn't return!! It was all unreal for us kids.

7) Did you lose anyone close to you during the war?

I unfortunately did. My moms dad, my gradpa, is my closest relative that got killed. My moms family is from Srebrenica so their losses are countless!! I would make a mistake if I say that 80% of male population on that side of family was killed. From ages 12-13 to 65-70 including my moms uncles, their sons, sons of their sons.

8) Were you wounded during the war? Where were you wounded? Anyone close to you wounded?-

No. However I wasn't spared from seeing wounded people all over the place, either on tv or even live when I was unlucky. Perhaps the worst thing that I've ever seen was when a bombshell was dropped on Tuzla's city center with around 200 graduates having their highschool prom... bombshell fell right where they were and most of them were killed, 71 I believe. My 18 year old cousin was there too, didn't make it out. I was out playing, maybe a mile away from there, and ran into the house when we heard it and saw everything live on TV. Devastating.

9) Your biggest loss during the war was?

Very hard question. Besides the lives, I think my biggest lost as an individual is liberality and my development as a person. No matter how hard I try to go over it and not think about it, I will never be liberal and never be able to forget or forgive! I loved my grandfather, as everyone does, but someone took him from me. Many of my friends grew up without fathers, someone took them! All of that impacts on the development of my views and they are just messed up! Even tho I went to the States and got a great deal of education on liberal-arts institution, I will never be able to overcome what happened and my views will always be narrowly shaped by war.

10) What was the hardest part about the war?

No easy parts. Hardest part is today, when some of the politicians approve it and call the victims them legitimate and talk about it like nothing happened. We haven't learned a lesson at all.

11) Did you leave the country during the war?

Stayed the entire time.

12) 20 years later, what do you think of what happened?

As I said before, my views are shaped by what happened unfortunately and will be. I don't even know what to think, I think it was pointless sometimes because we didn't get anything. Neither did we get an independent country, neither do we live freely. Creators of massacre are living among us and walking freely while people who fought and gave their lives for this country have nothing! I think that I'm starting to lose my national identity. I once was proud Bosnian and Hercegovian whos dad fought for his country and independence of the same, now, that country doesn't exist. It is flooded by corruption and traitors, war crime generals, murderers and what not.

13) Are things better or worse than what you expected 20 years later?

Way worse. No progress in any aspect of life in last few years and it seams like there won't be any either. Political elite is the only kind that survives here.

14) Do you think war will return to BiH?

Yes, I think change is necessary. This time it won't be a war any similar to that one, this time neighbor will have to kill a neighbor for a piece of bred or because one has it and the other one doesn't. We are struggling for years and poverty is reaching its culmination. Something will have to change, this or that way.

15) What do you think the future of BiH will be?

Another tough one. I am pessimistic and I will shortly try to explain why. I graduated with degree in BA from an American private University and came back to try to find a job. You would say, or I thought, I was promising for my country and young, educated people are needed. Not quite! Corruption took over everything and no matter how educated or what potential do you have, you cannot find your place in society unless you have some sorts of relations inside the system. There is no jobs even for educated people. There is nothing. This is very hard for me to say because I really am a patriot and my families blood has been spilled all over this land to make it what it is today, and I'm ashamed of what it is! More I grow up, more I realize that this is not what they fought for and this is not what I want to call my country, this is not the country I would be willing to spill my blood for. For whose interest ?

This is my experience so far, I hope and pray for chance but if it stays like this... Dunno!

(44) Bosnia twenty years later another story from Sarajevo

(Sarajevo survival map)

1) Do you remember where were you when you realized the war was imminent? What town and what location in the town? I was in Sarajevo

2) Do you remember where you were when the war broke out, Specifically? At home in Sarajevo

3) Where were you when the war came to your town? Were you at home, relatives, friends, work? At home in Sarajevo

4) The most memorable event of the war for you was? When I am with my children went to the peaceful protests, and if we are fired.

5) What made you hopeless during the war? The madness and foolishness on religious grounds.

6) What gave you hope during the war? Daily survival and bringing up my children

7) Did you lose anyone close to you during the war? A close aunt of mine

8) Were you wounded during the war? Where were you wounded? Anyone close to you wounded? No

9) Your biggest loss during the war was? The loss of friend and family and care for people who love and who were in Bosnia Herzegovina

10) What was the hardest part about the war? The fact that I left and so many were still in Bosnia suffering

11) Did you leave the country during the war? yes

12) 20 years later, what do you think of what happened? folly that could affect these areas, thousands killed, displaced and disabled all the crimes that have devastated this our dear country

13) Are things better or worse than what you expected 20 years later? we have an orderly system, and educated and were Free.Ours is now a corrupt country, with laws that are difficult inplement, very difficult financial situation, and religion is in my opinion played a key role in problems.We need progress, what happened to people, so much rancor accumulated in a small space.

14) Do you think war will return to BiH? I am an optimist, to human consciousness to change and to turn our economy, to our future generations not problems what they inherited. I'm the analyst, in this region are frequent clashes but I will not believe that at least in the near future to come to armed conflict. Savvy will stretch us as before, but the war is difficult.

15) What do you think the future of BiH will be? If the positions were the people who care about multiethnic state, law enforcement, economics, and resources that this country has, I believe that BiH could be a country where people could thrive.It would be nice to be more involved, young, qualified staff to enable change the current situation, all we would do.My hope, I woul hope that this isn't too much.

(43) Bosnia twenty years later a story of watching your mother shot by a sniper

(Sarajevo sniper)

1) Do you remember where were you when you realized the war was imminent?

In the City, Sarajevo

2) Do you remember where you were when the war broke out?

Sarajevo

3) Where were you when the war came to your town?

 At Home

4) The most memorable event of the war for you was?

Being shot three different times :)

5) What made you hopeless during the war?

Not being able to walk on the street without worrying of getting shot by sniper

6) What gave you hope during the war?

Friends, Family and Bill Clinton with sixth fleet, soldiers on the ground

7) Did you lose anyone close to you during the war?

Yes

8) Were you wounded during the war? Where were you wounded?

I have three shrapnel in my right lung, 60mm grenade, 11 hand-grenade M75 bids in my legs, under my nose I have piece of gun grenade that because of poor quality (was made in the city during the war)exploded on my gun

9) Your biggest loss during the war was?

seeing my mother getting shot while hanging laundry

10) What was the hardest part about the war?

staying alive and leading soldiers

11) Did you leave the country during the war?

no

12) 20 years later, what do you

Shity:))..Cant be an optimist after all

.. think of what happened?

could not summarize it on this terms and in short period with couple of words

13) Are things better or worse than what you expected 20 years later?

worse

14) Do you think war will return to BiH?

no..but only due to missing logistics and presence of Europe

15) What do you think the future of BiH will be?

Shity:))..Cant be an optimist after all

(42) Bosnia twenty years later a story from Vasa Miskin street massacre

(Vasa Miskin St massacre)

1. Were where you were when you realize that war is inevitable?
I was all the time in Sarajevo. I never imagined that it was possible, war in Sarajevo. When the conflicts with the first street battles, I thought that the incident occurred, which will pass within a few days, and then for several weeks, months and years it continued ... and then you are being totally unrealistic to the fact that you're surrounded, you're in the epicenter of the war, the way you're used to in the cinema watching war movies.

2. Do you remember where you were from the beginning of the war?01.April 1992 and I returned from a film festival in Belgrade. The very next day the airport was closed.

3. Where were you when the war is affecting you and city?I was in Sarajevo. participated in demonstrations (for Bosnia) in front of parliament.I  testified when the sheep SDS (Serbian Democratic Party) opened fire on demonstrators. I lived in the street (Trieste) by four years under siege by Serbian snipers kept firing.

4. The most striking moment of the war was for you ...?Pink stains on the washer. My father happened to be there, in the time of massacre on Vaso Miskin street! He helped wounded people, and returned home soaked in blood. He washed his shoes, and placed them on the top of the washer. Pink drops were falling off of the shoe laces( blood mixed with water), on the white washer surface, then he said to me and his son in law" I am sixty two years old, and I lived enough". Starting tomorrow, I will be going outside( to bring food and water)! You take care of women and children. If anything happens to me, you take responsibility for your families! 5. What do you most contributed to the hopelessness of the war? The vain belief in justice, the international community, UN, NATO. I believed that it would not allow "povampirenje"blood sucking fascist vampires.

6. What gave you hope during the war?families. daughter and husband. I had a strong existential and artistic motivation

7. Have you lost someone close during the war?uncle and some friends

8. Have you been injured during the war?not

9. What was your greatest losses during the war?loss of faith in a just world order and the realization that the world is there anything other than personal interest

10. What was the most difficult period during the war?passivity of the international community on the manifestations of fascism at the time. I think here the aggression of Serbia, Montenegro and Croatian in Bosnia and Herzegovina.


12. After 19 years since the war began, what do you think about everything that happened?There was an aggression occurred, fascism, genocide happened

13. Are things better or worse than what you might have expected 20 years ago?all the worse. I could not imagine that things could be so much bad. The Dayton agreement stopped the war, and then destroyed everything, especially about the future.

14. I believe that I would be back in the war?the experience from the 90s, I am not prepared to say that there will be no more war. just know that the state without such a winner and political situation worse than it was a time of war. war we all have "taken away" by 3 years of age. post-conflict situation is abysmal lifetimes. no political scum, which is against Bosnia, it is not eliminated from political life.

15. What future is predicted for BH?Suffering is most accurate word for the future. and this is the only certain thing.11. Did you I would leave during the war?several times I've traveled abroad, organized by the "open society", promoting the documentary film that I shot with my colleagues during the war in production "saga" in Sarajevo.

(41) Bosnia twenty years later a story from Gorazde

(News article on Gorazde from 1993)

1) Do you remember where were you when you realized the war was imminent? What town and what location in the town?

I lived in Gorazde at the time, but am originally form Foca,Eastern Bosnia.

2) Do you remember where you were when the war broke out, Specifically?

I was at my place, watching TV reports from demonstrations in Sarajevo.There were tensions months before the actual demonstrations.Then we heard the awful news about barricades in Foca.

3) Where were you when the war came to your town? Were you at home, relatives, friends, work?

I was at home, but left soon as we didn't have a basement and I felt unsafe having nowhere to escape.I went to my friend's place, then stayed at my uncle's house until we left the country.

4) The most memorable event of the war for you was?

Two of them actually: there was a shooting in Gorazde in the middle of the night, grenades were flying around, loud explosions could be heard but my 3 year old daughter was innocently sleeping through it all.I'll never forget her peaceful little face and my enormous fear thinking what is going to happen to us...Second one was when my mum told me on the phone that my father was taken to Concentration camp in Foca.

5) What made you hopeless during the war?

All the suffering and killing of innocent people and the whole Europe and the world watching it for such a long time and not doing anything about it.It could all end quickly if they only bothered to help immediately.

6) What gave you hope during the war?

Strength and resilience of our proud nation.Youth that fought fearlessly for our country, sacrificing their lives for better tomorrow.

7) Did you lose anyone close to you during the war?

I lost one of my dearest friends.She was in Bosnian army and I've heard she was a fearless fighter.Grenade fell on her and shredded her body into thousands of little pieces...

Were you wounded during the war? Where were you wounded? Anyone close to you wounded?

My mother's brother was wounded three times, but thankfully recovered.

9) Your biggest loss during the war was?

Lost my friends, my family, my beautiful town Foca, lost myself somewhere along the way...

10) What was the hardest part about the war?

Missing my parents, knowing that my father was imprisoned in one of the most terrible concentration camps in the country.Knowing that mum was alone in our flat, and inability to help her was killing me.

11) Did you leave the country during the war?

I left at the end of April '92.Experienced enough fear and war to know even then that I will never return again...

12) 20 years later, what do you think of what happened?

It was a bloody, cruel war..I can't forgive or forget.Many did and even go to our home town for coffee or lunch and renew friendships with those that tried to wipe us of the planet Earth. I never did and I never will.Thats not my Foca, not the town that I grew up in...

13) Are things better or worse than what you expected 20 years later?

Much worse from what I hear.It will take many more years to return to normal life, if ever...

14) Do you think war will return to BiH?

Anything is possible...

15) What do you think the future of BiH will be?

Bosnia and Hercegovina always was and always will be...It requires a bit more hard work and a lot less corruption to make their future brighter.Government should consist of smart and prosperous people that will lead the country towards better life.

As for me I am the citizen of another country now and far enough not to worry about any wars. There is an old proverb that says"If you haven't got what you love then love what you've got".I say yes to that!