A LETTER TO BH OFFICIALS CONCERNING
THE ISSUE OF MISSING PERSONS

Dear Sir/Madam,
 

Allow us first of all to inform you that, on initiative of certain number of non-governmental organisations, informal interest group was established dedicated to the issue of missing persons in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
This informal group, composed of the representatives of the national non-governmental organisations, and in co-operation with corresponding foreign organisations, had its first meeting in February 1999. Our basic objective is to help in solving one of the most painful issues, i.e. issue of missing persons as a consequence of the war and to help the families of missing persons who are, as you are aware, suffer great pain and are faced with great uncertainty. According to our knowledge, still more than 20,000 persons are on the lists of missing persons, and more than 200,000 members of their families are trying to know the truth on their fate and to bury them with dignity, if presuppositions on fatal epilogue were confirmed.
We use this occasion that inform you of our conclusion that until now there has been achieved little progress in supplying information and giving replies on demands of the International Red Cross by the authorities of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Republic of Srpska and BH Federation. We are also of opinion that justified demands on the part of the family of the persons whose fate is still unknown, have not been met with adequate response by the authorities that are, both according to the Dayton Agreement and Madrid Conference, responsible for the process of search of missing persons.
We would like to emphasise the importance we give to the work of the Work Group for Missing Persons managed by the ICRC and to ask you to make additional efforts to improve the efficiency of work of this extremely significant body. We especially deem important that the Armed Forces, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Ministry of Justice should give support to the Work Group. Therefore, we are free to suggest creation of corresponding structures and mechanisms for co-ordination of these activities and designation of persons in charge in the bodies of authorities, thus affecting better efficiency of the work of the Work Group.
Expressing our willingness to contribute as much as possible to the process of search of missing persons, we ask for your understanding and co-operation in this delicate and significant work.

Best regards,

Sarajevo, 16 June 1999
No: 25-06/99

• Letters sent to:
  Co-Chairmen of the BH Council of Ministers
  Vice President of the BH Council of Ministers
  Minister of Foreign Affairs of BH
  President of the BH Federation
  Vice President of the BH Federation
  Vice President of the Republic of Srpska
  President of the RS Government
  Vice President of the RS Government
  President of the BH Federation Government
  Vice President of the BH Federation Government

• Copies sent to:
  H.E. Ambassador Mr Carlos Westendorp – OHR
  H.E. Ambassador Robert L. Barry – OSCE Mission to B&H
  International Commission on Missing persons in B&H
  International Committee of the Red Cross in B&H
  Physicians for Human Rights in B&H

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