The New Sarajevans

In Luzane, an area of the suburb of Ilidza, visitors trying to find a particular street would experience great difficulties. No one in the area knows the names of streets. Receptionists at the town hall, only several hundred meters away from our destination, could not give us directions. Even Federal policemen, strolling through the streets, could not help, while passers by politely admitted that they do not know since they themselves recently moved in the area.

The "new settlers" form a very large majority of the population not only in Ilidza but also other parts of what was known as "Serbian Sarajevo" before it came under the control of Bosnian Federation in March this year. There are only 8-10,000 Serbs left in Ilidza, Vogosca, Ilijas, Hadzici, and Grbavica compared to 80,000 prior to reintegration. Those who left took what they could with them, and set fire to most of what they left behind. Remaining Serbs are in their homes, scared.

Beatings, looting, raids, and intimidation are common. At a recent press conference, Bosnian Minister of interior Avdo Hebib told the journalists that the police registered 315 criminal offenses since the reintegration, and arrested 165 suspects. According to Hebib, a shortage in personnel and financial resources is inhibiting the efficiency of the police. With a monthly pay of DM 20 (which is what federal soldiers get) one can hardly expect great motivation, especially in cases like these.

In Grbavica, a woman angrily rattles her keys, saying she will hand them to Mikhail Steiner, Karl Bilt's deputy who persuaded some Serbs to stay. Activists from the Democratic initiative of Sarajevo Serbs (DISS) claim they have reports of around 500 offenses and that the true number is probably higher, since most Serbs remaining in the above mentioned suburbs are pensioners left to look after the property, most do not have a phone and are too scared to report their troubles. Some of them can not leave their homes even temporarily either because they are worried that someone else will move in, or because they can not afford a bus ticket. The elderly in nearby villages would have died had their not been for the "Refugee trust", an Iranian humanitarian organization, and the DISS. Since it is increasingly difficult for the Serbs to find employment, their financial future looks bleak.

According to some estimates, around 20,000 Serbian refugees would return if someone would guarantee their safety and basic property rights. Bosnian president Alija Izetbegovic told "Nasa Borba" that safety is guaranteed to all those innocent of war crimes. Avdo Hebib made similar promises. Local folk would also much rather live with their old neighbours than the upstarts who brought their own sorrow, habits and prejudice. Obstacles however are many, the biggest one being the Abandoned apartments Act, according to which only those refugees who reported to the authorities before 7. January 1996 are still entitled to their real estate. Many Sarajevans never heard of this legislation, others could not return before the deadline, so few are entitled to their old apartments.

Another problem lies in the fact that the return of refugees is meant to be a two way process. It is well known that in Serb held areas of Bosnia, "spontaneously gathered" crowds of civilians are preventing any larger group of Muslims or Croats even from visiting the graves of their loved ones. Therefore, in many areas there can be little talk of permanent return of refugees.

"Without mutual agreement between the three constituent people in Bosnia there can be no reintegration and no future", says Rajko Zivkovic, vice-president of the Serbian Civil Council. "The Dayton agreement stopped the fighting but sealed the division of Bosnia into two or rather three parts. National political oligarchies can not agree on the future of the federation, not to mention the future of Bosnia as a whole. As long as they are in power, I have little faith in the future of Bosnia".

Judging by the overall climate in Bosnia, the coming elections will do little to change the current state of affairs.

Interview: Alexander Ivanko

Ashamed of Sarajevo

In reaction to the events in districts of former "Serbian Sarajevo", deputy UN envoy Mikhail Steiner recently told "Oslobodjenje" that he is "ashamed of Sarajevo", and in saying that provoked the anger of Bosnian press. During the conversation with "Vreme", UN spokesman in Sarajevo Alexander Ivanko, tried to avoid strong words. "The situation in those areas is not very good", Ivanko said. "The first problem are thousands of refugees from eastern Bosnia who moved into these suburbs. There is also the problem of local gangsters, small groups of criminals arriving from Zenica and other parts of Bosnia who terrorize local Serbs. We believe there has been a large number of cases of harassment, at least one murder and 40 cases of illegal eviction.

"Vreme": Do you have any guarantees from the federal authorities that they will put an end to all this?

Ivanko: We spoke to the federal authorities, and the Minister of Interior Hebib promised that the federal police will ensure the safety of Serbs in Sarajevo. The police responded on many occasions, but generally speaking, there has been little improvement so many Serbs now want to leave. The worst situation is in Ilidza, but we also have problems in Ilijas. Grbavica is more or less all right, and so is Vogosca.