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Home 
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PRESS CONFERENCE IN SARAJEVO
28 June 2000
On Wednesday, 28 June, an hour-long press conference was held at the OHR offices in Sarajevo. The press conference was an extremely positive event. There were approximately 15-20 reporters present, among which were included 5 television crews.
In the opening address Ambassador Hoffman, Senior Deputy High Representative, stated that the OHR does not normally support specific projects of other institutions. However, he continued, the EFP project is unique because of its vision and aims, which he said were both “realistic” and “far-sighted”. He impressed on the audience the OHR’s confidence that this project will “free the minds of historic prejudices,” and he also expressed the hope that the project will be extended to other parts of the country – in particular to the Mostar region. He went so far as to announce that this effort would require additional funds of approximately Sfr.500,000, and he invited the Governments of Luxembourg and Switzerland to consider donating these funds. He concluded his remarks by saying that the OHR extends its full political support for the project, and intends to follow closely its development and implementation over the course of the next year, and it is hoped into the future.
Following Ambassador Hoffman’s remarks, Ambassador Mayer of Luxembourg addressed the attendees on the history and development of the EFP project. He called EFP a “civil society building project” and linked its aims to the aims of both the Stability Pact and the Royaumont Process. The EFP project, he said, will “contribute in a concrete manner to existing efforts to strengthen democracy, human rights, and inter-ethnic understanding” in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Dr. H. Danesh, Rector of Landegg Academy, then spoke on the vision of the EFP project and, in particular, on the central role of peace in cultivating the finest expressions of human civilization. He described the organization of the project and the roles of the various institutions in supporting it and seeing it through to realization. Particular remarks were made in reference to meetings scheduled to take place at different stages throughout the project with the parents of the school children. These meetings, he said, will be held for the purpose of harmonizing the discourse between the parents and their children, with the discourse on peace that the children participate in at school. He also made particular remarks on the important role, and indeed the obligation, of the media itself to contribute towards a culture of peace. All segments of society, he said, must be in harmony with each other regarding the cultivation of peace.
Brief remarks were then made by Minister of Education for the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Mr. Rizvanbegovic, who reiterated the importance of the EFP project, and who affirmed the commitment of his Ministry to “work together” with “smiling faces” to bring its objectives into being.
Deputy Minister of Education for the Federation, Mr. Jovic, also commented that “such projects have not been offered in BiH so far.” He concluded by saying that “I think we will achieve a tremendous success.”
To view the OHR Press Release, click
here.
