Open Letter to HE Ambassador Carlos Westendorp

HE Ambassador Carlos Westendorp
High Representative in BH
- Sarajevo -

Dear Mr. Ambassador,

On 5 January, in Sarajevo, there was a projection of the documentary film “Crime and Punishment” made by the Norwegian author Marie Fuglevaag Warsinski. This deeply moving and powerful testimonies speak of the sufferings of the citizens of Srebrenica, of the crimes committed in July 1995, at the time when the city was proclaimed safe zone.
After the projection, which was attended by the survived people of Srebrenica, the representatives of the international community, the representatives of the local and foreign non-governmental organisations, numerous journalists, there was a debate on the tragedy of Srebrenica. The participants in the debate were unanimous in their demand that a letter should be sent to you, estimeed Mr. Westendorp, with the request to do all in your power and all according to your authorisations in order to light up the fate of the missing people of Srebrenica as soon as possible. The participants in the debate also insisted on handing over war crime indictees to the Hague Tribunal and their punishment without which the state in Bosnia and Herzegovina can not be normalised nor long-lasting and stable peace can not be built.
Feeling groundless sentence pronounced to the three men from Srebrenica, Nedzad Hasic, Ahmo Harbasa and Behudin Husic as a continuation of the tragedy of Srebrenica, we ask you kindly to use your prerogatives in order to set free these three men as soon as possible. We base our request on the fact that your associates, legal experts from your office, estimated these sentences of the Bijeljina court as incorrect and groundless.
We are convinced that these justified requests shall meet your understanding and that you will, from the position you occupy, contribute to eliminating the unjustice the victims of which are the people of Srebrenica and offer them at least minimum satisfaction for sufferings they went through.

Sincerely yours,

Srđan Dizdarevic
President
 

Sarajevo, 7 January 1999
No: 07-01/99