In Srebrenica, a five-hour meeting was held on crosses near the cemetery that upset returnees

(Patria) - In Srebrenica, a procedure will be initiated to grant land for cemeteries to the Islamic and Orthodox religious communities.

Both sides should refrain from excesses in order to maintain stability and peace and increase the level of mutual communication, it was concluded at the Security Forum held after returnees were upset by crosses placed next to the cemetery in the Kragljivoda Memorial Center.

The Security Forum, which lasted five hours on Friday in the mayor's office, was attended by representatives of religious communities, the police, and councilors of the Srebrenica Municipal Assembly, a few days after a group from the Karno monastery placed crosses in the martyrs' cemetery in the Kragljivoda Memorial Center.

Residents of Kragljivoda said they were upset by this act, and Bosniak councilors of the Srebrenica Municipal Assembly and residents filed a criminal complaint with the State Investigation and Protection Agency (SIPA) and the Prosecutor's Office of Bosnia and Herzegovina against Luka Babić, abbot of the Karno Monastery.

Srebrenica Mayor Miloš Vučić announced after the meeting that three key agreements were reached.

- One is of a property-legal nature, and we are determined to initiate the procedure for these religious communities to receive land for their cemeteries. The second conclusion is certainly that it is necessary for all of us to refrain from further excesses, in order to maintain peace and stability among the people, because we had a situation where some comments were very offensive - said Vučić.

He added that it is necessary to increase the level of communication among the religious leaders and heads in Srebrenica.

Damir Peštalić, chief imam of the Srebrenica Islamic Community Council, stated that there is a communication problem, both in Srebrenica and in the entire country. He adds that it is important that they have started talking and that both sides are aware that there were moves that could have been made differently.

- The crosses do not bother the people up there, the marking does not bother them, the way it was done bothered us. So we didn't know, there was no announcement, people just saw it and that's what resulted from it.

So, there were graves there in 1914, and of course there should be, every person has that right, the way it was done was a problem for us, we have talked, we will talk again - said Peštalić.

He explained that the Kragljivoda cemetery was not created by a natural process, but during the war, and that due to the entire atmosphere, the crosses should have been placed differently.

He added that his information was that one Serb from 1914 was buried in that location, but that today they learned that two more were buried and that there should be no problems if family members claim that they are buried in this place.

Luka Babić, abbot of the Karno monastery, agreed that a solution needs to be found.

- If my act, the monastery's, or anyone's, has offended someone, if it was the reason for the deterioration of relations, then I say there are no problems in Srebrenica. I apologize to anyone who perceived this act as an offense, it is neither defiance nor offense - he stated.

He also pointed out that for 15 years he has been restoring Serbian monasteries, cemeteries, and church sites, and that he has never taken anything that belongs to others, which he also told SIPA inspectors, the Prosecutor's Office of BiH, and local commissions.

He stated that the owner of this place is Republika Srpska and Šume RS Drina, and that this is a matter for lawyers.

- We do not want any conflicts, generally people who do not live here raise tensions, and unpleasant events can occur there - he said, adding that he has all the papers after contacting the rightful owner.

According to him, no one entered someone else's cemetery, but the crosses were placed next to it.

Stevan Jovanović stated that he is a descendant of Ilija Jovanović, who was shot in 1914 at the Kragljivoda site, where Rade Đurić and Mitar Jevtić were also killed.

- Since I am 65 years old, I know very well and I used to herd cattle there, where that grave is, as a common grave because they were buried there together.

One of my peers made a metal fence and placed it there, and there was a common monument, which is preserved at the abbot's in the monastery, and on that stone are the names of these three martyrs, and somewhere around 2005 or 2006, my brother and I went to the village and saw that the monument was gone - he said, adding that the monument had been thrown away, but was later found and is now in the monastery.

Sabit Mandžić from the Osat Local Community Council said that the Forum encouraged him because communication between the parties was established and that they are close to finding a solution.

Kadefa Muhić, president of the Organization of Families of Martyrs and Fallen Soldiers and Missing Soldiers of the Municipality of Srebrenica, said in a conversation before the Forum began that there is a brother buried in the Kragljivoda cemetery who died in 1992, and a father who was buried in 2018, who died of natural causes.

In a conversation with Detektor, she said she is disappointed by the placement of the crosses. She holds Babić responsible for "provocations and the desire to cause conflict among citizens of Serbian and Bosniak nationality".

She says she would not have anything against institutions getting involved, excavating, and checking if there are any remains of persons of Serbian nationality. Opposite the Kragljivoda Memorial Center, a Orthodox church is under construction.

- Today I am here, and people with children are already afraid, and this is not the first provocation - she says and adds that they had no problems before Babić arrived.

Ibro Mehmedović, imam of the Osat jamaat, reminds that on January 19, an Orthodox priest with a group of people placed three crosses in the Kragljivoda Memorial Center, which were randomly stuck into the ground.

- After that, again on Thursday, that is yesterday, the same priest came here and concreted those crosses, which you can see on site, a concrete base has been made where the crosses are embedded in concrete - he says and adds that he perceives the act as a provocation and an attempt to disrupt inter-ethnic relations.

He adds that the residents are upset.

- It is not disputed if they claim that there are some victims there, some of their bones, that it should be done, but it must be done through institutions, with the Prosecutor's Office, with some other institutions, not like this.

If those people existed, there are satellite images, there is an institute, it is carried out, bones are found, identification is done, DNA analysis - he concludes.