Premier Forto and delegation of the Sarajevo Canton Government in Srebrenica: We strongly support returnees

SARAJEVO, (Patria) - A delegation of the Sarajevo Canton Government, led by Prime Minister Edin Forto, including Minister of Education Naida Hota-Muminović, Minister of Science, Higher Education and Youth Aleksandra Nikolić, and Minister of Internal Affairs Admir Katica, is visiting Srebrenica today.  

Numerous projects supported by the Sarajevo Canton Government are being implemented in this municipality. One of the current projects is the construction of a hall in the branch school in Potočari.  

The first in a series of activities was laying flowers and paying tribute to the victims of genocide at the Srebrenica-Potočari Memorial Center.  

The delegation of the Sarajevo Canton Government also held a meeting with representatives of the Srebrenica Municipality and the school in Potočari.   

On this occasion, Prime Minister Forto emphasized the commitment of the Sarajevo Canton Government to strongly support returnees to Srebrenica and other parts of the Bosnian entity of Republika Srpska.  

"These are the strongest and bravest people in Bosnia and Herzegovina. We think of them and concretely help what is needed and sustainable. We are very strict regarding the allocation of funds and insist that they be justified, so that we can renew assistance in the coming years," stated Prime Minister Forto.  

As he added, the Sarajevo Canton Government is the first to sign a direct agreement with the Srebrenica Municipality for returnee projects. He recalled that a record amount was allocated for these purposes in 2019, and explained that the Sarajevo Canton Government, through the Prime Minister's cabinet, also secured 350,000 KM for infrastructure projects in Srebrenica in 2021. These will be implemented in the coming period.  

"Many of these projects are related to returnee settlements, and the largest among them is the reconstruction of the sports hall in the branch school in Potočari, for which 175,000 KM has been allocated. Also, through the cabinet, we had a public call for non-governmental organizations in the amount of 115,000 KM. These were mostly returnee, i.e., women's associations. In this way, we helped many projects - from fruit processing to helping babies in the returnee population," explained Prime Minister Forto.  

He emphasized that during his mandate, the Sarajevo Canton Government also signed a direct agreement with the Srebrenica-Potočari Memorial Center, under which the Government supports projects of this center.  

"In 2021, with 80,000 KM we helped organize the commemoration of July 11, and after that we allocated another 100,000 KM for projects that the Memorial Center carries out during the rest of the year.  Through the Institute for Construction, we also finance the reconstruction of the Center. Of the total project value of 1.2 million marks, the Sarajevo Canton Government allocates more than 800,000 KM," said Prime Minister Forto.   

Minister Hota-Muminović stated that the Sarajevo Canton has a special role in nurturing the culture of remembrance and memory.  

"We must do this with our students in Sarajevo, but also in the field. It is precisely from this place - the Memorial Center in Potočari, that it is important to send such a message," said Minister Hota-Muminović.  

She added that direct contact with the people of Srebrenica provides a direct picture of how important it is to support sustainable return. According to her words, the Sarajevo Canton strives to develop programs, not just material forms of support.  

Minister Nikolić said that the ministry she heads supports scientific projects of the Srebrenica-Potočari Memorial Center and the University of Sarajevo. She recalled that the University previously donated books for the library of the Memorial Center.  

"Other projects are of a scientific nature, where we try to find ways to secure documents and scientific approaches in considering everything that happened in Srebrenica, especially the genocide. We collect documents and materials that will serve for systematic confrontation, based on scientific facts, with everything that happened - not only in Srebrenica, but in Bosnia and Herzegovina, perhaps the entire region," stated Minister Nikolić.   

Hamdija Fejzić, Deputy Mayor of the Srebrenica Municipality, thanked Prime Minister Forto and the ministers for the visit.  

"This is a message that we are not alone, that there is someone who cares about returnees. The Sarajevo Canton is a shining example, and in previous years it has shown considerable attention to Srebrenica, returnees, their projects, and everything that burdens them. It is the only canton that, from the very beginning of marking July 11 - the anniversary of the genocide, allocated funds, and they continue to do so today," said Fejzić, and also highlighted the projects that the Sarajevo Canton implements through the Srebrenica Municipality and non-governmental organizations.  

Today, a visit to the returnee settlement of Kamenica near Zvornik is also planned, where children will be given gift packages.