Enabling Funding for the Potočari Memorial Center through Public Budgets

SARAJevo, (Patria) - A kind of donor conference was held today in the BiH Parliament to secure financial resources for the operation of the Potočari Memorial Center. From the state budget, the Memorial Center receives 500,000 KM annually, which is not enough to preserve the infrastructure or carry out certain projects.

Emir Suljagić, director of the Potočari Memorial Center, said that 40 mayors and city mayors attended the conference.

"The Memorial Center is not just our concern, but it is a public good. What I can say based on the turnout - there will be 40 mayors and city mayors and representatives of various levels of government here. This is proof that a critical mass has clearly matured and formed where the Memorial Center and the preservation of memory of the genocide are considered a public good," Suljagić said.

Suljagić explained that the idea is for this to be an annual practice, but in accordance with the capabilities of each municipality and city. He appealed to all responsible parties to get involved so that the Memorial Center does not continue to deteriorate.

"The water you see in the memorial room is there because our roof is leaking. We would like to conserve the site, renovate the infrastructure. Without that, we cannot talk about anything," he said.

Adil Osmanović, Minister of Civil Affairs, said that this initiative was submitted together with the Memorial Center and other levels of government to include funds for the Potočari Memorial Center in the budgets.

"It is unacceptable that the Memorial Center has no funds. We want to provide significant financial support to the center and the people who run it, to initiate projects and to complete that part of the work," Osmanović stated.

He expressed his wish that all other institutions in BiH show readiness to contribute to the Memorial Center in terms of financing.

"What we expect at this meeting is that there will be a budget item for financing, which will be in the next 50-100 years. So that it is known that a certain municipality is present in the financing of this project," he said.