All language subtitles for Srpska. The Struggle for Freedom (Malagurski, Boris 2022)_WEBRip.1080p.x264.AAC_EN

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These are the user uploaded subtitles that are being translated: 1 00:00:59,129 --> 00:01:01,349 What does freedom mean for each of us? 2 00:01:01,350 --> 00:01:03,389 Are we convinced that freedom is guaranteed 3 00:01:03,390 --> 00:01:05,309 in every aspect of our lives, 4 00:01:05,310 --> 00:01:07,349 or are we forgetting the sacrifices made 5 00:01:07,350 --> 00:01:11,023 by those who came before us in order for us to have it? 6 00:01:24,317 --> 00:01:26,369 From the times of antiquity until now, 7 00:01:26,370 --> 00:01:28,199 the role that freedom played in people's lives 8 00:01:28,200 --> 00:01:29,729 changed many times. 9 00:01:29,730 --> 00:01:32,853 But in the 18th century, it took on a whole new dimension. 10 00:01:35,790 --> 00:01:38,159 In ancient times, man considered freedom 11 00:01:38,160 --> 00:01:41,519 to be the possibility to know the truth with his own mind. 12 00:01:41,520 --> 00:01:43,199 But with the advent of Christianity, 13 00:01:43,200 --> 00:01:45,749 freedom referred to the free will to act 14 00:01:45,750 --> 00:01:48,869 or not to act according to God's morals. 15 00:01:48,870 --> 00:01:49,890 Throughout this period, 16 00:01:49,891 --> 00:01:52,679 individual freedoms were the privilege of the few, 17 00:01:52,680 --> 00:01:54,629 until the awareness of collective freedom 18 00:01:54,630 --> 00:01:56,669 emerged in the 18th century. 19 00:01:56,670 --> 00:01:58,589 This was after the French Revolution 20 00:01:58,590 --> 00:02:01,529 that awoke national consciousness across Europe. 21 00:02:01,530 --> 00:02:02,819 This powerful movement 22 00:02:02,820 --> 00:02:05,489 permanently changed the borders of feudal Europe 23 00:02:05,490 --> 00:02:07,679 as well as the consciousness of its inhabitants 24 00:02:07,680 --> 00:02:09,599 over the next two centuries. 25 00:02:09,600 --> 00:02:13,289 The Italian city of Turin, the capital of Piedmont, 26 00:02:13,290 --> 00:02:15,839 it's certainly a breathtaking tourist destination, 27 00:02:15,840 --> 00:02:18,659 but many people aren't aware that the Italy we know today 28 00:02:18,660 --> 00:02:20,129 was formed thanks to a movement 29 00:02:20,130 --> 00:02:24,389 that started from right here, the Kingdom of Piedmont. 30 00:02:24,390 --> 00:02:28,199 The king of Piedmont and Sardinia, Victor Emmanuel II 31 00:02:28,200 --> 00:02:30,239 launched a series of political initiatives 32 00:02:30,240 --> 00:02:33,599 to unite the small states on the Apennine Peninsula. 33 00:02:33,600 --> 00:02:38,519 He succeeded in 1865 by proclaiming the Kingdom of Italy. 34 00:02:38,520 --> 00:02:41,159 An identical example in the same period 35 00:02:41,160 --> 00:02:42,929 was the unification of Germany, 36 00:02:42,930 --> 00:02:45,509 which was led by the Kingdom of Prussia. 37 00:02:45,510 --> 00:02:48,359 These movements formed the world in which we live, 38 00:02:48,360 --> 00:02:49,530 and they owe their success 39 00:02:49,531 --> 00:02:52,259 not only to the political capabilities of rulers, 40 00:02:52,260 --> 00:02:53,609 but also to the consciousness 41 00:02:53,610 --> 00:02:56,429 that individuals share cultural, linguistic, 42 00:02:56,430 --> 00:02:58,889 and often religious identities with others. 43 00:02:58,890 --> 00:03:00,749 And they know that collective freedom 44 00:03:00,750 --> 00:03:03,119 in a society is best guaranteed 45 00:03:03,120 --> 00:03:05,343 through the institution of a nation state. 46 00:03:09,330 --> 00:03:11,219 Aided by the romantic movement, 47 00:03:11,220 --> 00:03:13,769 The vision of the State as the only guarantor 48 00:03:13,770 --> 00:03:15,959 of preserving the authenticity of a nation 49 00:03:15,960 --> 00:03:17,549 spread through Europe. 50 00:03:17,550 --> 00:03:19,289 It saw collective liberation 51 00:03:19,290 --> 00:03:22,199 as the only means of national existence. 52 00:03:22,200 --> 00:03:25,563 And how is freedom manifested in the 21st century? 53 00:03:33,090 --> 00:03:35,189 According to the 2013 census, 54 00:03:35,190 --> 00:03:38,639 12 Klingons and as many as 76 Jedi 55 00:03:38,640 --> 00:03:41,069 live in today's Bosnia and Herzegovina. 56 00:03:41,070 --> 00:03:44,069 Certain media outlets are increasingly promoting 57 00:03:44,070 --> 00:03:45,719 the flat-Earth theory 58 00:03:45,720 --> 00:03:48,749 or discussing the possibility of an alien invasion 59 00:03:48,750 --> 00:03:51,059 under the pretext that everyone has the right 60 00:03:51,060 --> 00:03:52,739 to freedom of expression. 61 00:03:52,740 --> 00:03:54,629 This creates the danger of freedom 62 00:03:54,630 --> 00:03:58,199 being perceived as limitless or becoming a triviality. 63 00:03:58,200 --> 00:03:59,519 Freedom without limits means 64 00:03:59,520 --> 00:04:02,369 that justice becomes the advantage of the stronger. 65 00:04:02,370 --> 00:04:04,469 Monuments such as this speak of the rebellion 66 00:04:04,470 --> 00:04:06,599 against such an advantage. 67 00:04:06,600 --> 00:04:07,710 And those who rebelled 68 00:04:07,711 --> 00:04:10,260 certainly had a spiritual understanding of freedom. 69 00:04:12,690 --> 00:04:14,369 The Kozara Memorial was erected 70 00:04:14,370 --> 00:04:17,729 in memory of more than 30,000 civilian victims 71 00:04:17,730 --> 00:04:19,439 of this part of Republika Srpska 72 00:04:19,440 --> 00:04:23,279 in the fight against fascist occupiers during World War II. 73 00:04:23,280 --> 00:04:25,949 There are several monuments across Republika Srpska 74 00:04:25,950 --> 00:04:29,309 for those who died in the struggle for freedom. 75 00:04:29,310 --> 00:04:31,439 Nothing's infinite, not even freedom. 76 00:04:31,440 --> 00:04:34,079 But freedom's value doesn't lie in its infinity, 77 00:04:34,080 --> 00:04:36,239 but rather in its ability to preserve unique 78 00:04:36,240 --> 00:04:38,309 and authentic characteristics. 79 00:04:38,310 --> 00:04:40,769 To that extent, the Republika Srpska is an example 80 00:04:40,770 --> 00:04:42,719 that a nation can preserve its identity 81 00:04:42,720 --> 00:04:45,183 only if it's free to organise its life. 82 00:04:47,010 --> 00:04:50,159 To me, Republika Srpska is a territory 83 00:04:50,160 --> 00:04:54,026 where a culture is being defended from being marginalized. 84 00:04:54,027 --> 00:04:57,793 In every way, that culture deserves to survive 85 00:04:57,794 --> 00:05:01,624 as it has its language, script, 86 00:05:01,625 --> 00:05:05,143 literature, and cultural code. 87 00:05:06,150 --> 00:05:07,829 Republika Srpska, an entity 88 00:05:07,830 --> 00:05:11,369 of the state of Bosnia and Herzegovina in Southeast Europe, 89 00:05:11,370 --> 00:05:13,439 was created after the disintegration 90 00:05:13,440 --> 00:05:15,059 of the Socialist Yugoslavia 91 00:05:15,060 --> 00:05:17,639 and is largely inhabited by Serbs. 92 00:05:17,640 --> 00:05:19,559 Following the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina, 93 00:05:19,560 --> 00:05:22,529 between 1992 and 1995, 94 00:05:22,530 --> 00:05:24,809 the Dayton Peace Agreement shaped the country 95 00:05:24,810 --> 00:05:26,759 as a unique federation. 96 00:05:26,760 --> 00:05:27,750 Republika Srpska 97 00:05:27,751 --> 00:05:30,299 isn't an internationally recognised country, 98 00:05:30,300 --> 00:05:33,509 but it has administrative powers to preserve the tradition, 99 00:05:33,510 --> 00:05:36,389 identity, and culture of its nation. 100 00:05:36,390 --> 00:05:40,109 For Serbs, a turbulent history, rough geographical position, 101 00:05:40,110 --> 00:05:41,729 and strong awareness of belonging 102 00:05:41,730 --> 00:05:43,229 made the creation of a state 103 00:05:43,230 --> 00:05:46,319 not a precondition as it was for Italy and Germany, 104 00:05:46,320 --> 00:05:49,439 but rather a consequence of a firm national identity 105 00:05:49,440 --> 00:05:51,723 in which freedom is its ultimate value. 106 00:05:54,487 --> 00:05:57,299 "O boundless, O endless infinite freedom, 107 00:05:57,300 --> 00:05:59,579 come already and visit my country 108 00:05:59,580 --> 00:06:02,219 because everything is nothing without you, 109 00:06:02,220 --> 00:06:04,829 nothing is everything with you." 110 00:06:04,830 --> 00:06:07,002 These words written by Petar Kocic, 111 00:06:07,003 --> 00:06:09,389 a Serbian poet from the 19th century, 112 00:06:09,390 --> 00:06:12,959 speak of the value of freedom in the consciousness of Serbs. 113 00:06:12,960 --> 00:06:16,199 And the best example of how this nation sees freedom today 114 00:06:16,200 --> 00:06:19,019 is Republika Srpska, which emerged as a consequence 115 00:06:19,020 --> 00:06:22,350 of the belief that freedom really is everything. 116 00:06:59,100 --> 00:07:02,069 In 1984, Sarajevo was the host city 117 00:07:02,070 --> 00:07:03,839 of the Winter Olympic Games. 118 00:07:03,840 --> 00:07:06,839 It sparked the development of winter tourism in the region, 119 00:07:06,840 --> 00:07:10,349 embodied in the now popular ski resort on Jahorina, 120 00:07:10,350 --> 00:07:13,712 just a snowball throw from Sarajevo itself. 121 00:07:35,700 --> 00:07:38,159 The games also provided a unique opportunity 122 00:07:38,160 --> 00:07:41,339 for Socialist Yugoslavia to present itself to the world 123 00:07:41,340 --> 00:07:44,729 as well as its federal republic with an intriguing past, 124 00:07:44,730 --> 00:07:46,767 Bosnia and Herzegovina. 125 00:08:01,800 --> 00:08:04,169 The archaeological sites in the Republika Srpska 126 00:08:04,170 --> 00:08:07,079 are a testimony of the continuity of life here 127 00:08:07,080 --> 00:08:08,429 since the Stone Age 128 00:08:08,430 --> 00:08:09,570 Near the town of Sokolac, 129 00:08:09,571 --> 00:08:11,144 we can find one of the more significant 130 00:08:11,145 --> 00:08:14,639 archaeological sites, that of the Glasinac culture 131 00:08:14,640 --> 00:08:17,069 which can be traced back from the early Bronze Age 132 00:08:17,070 --> 00:08:18,509 to the early Iron Age, 133 00:08:18,510 --> 00:08:21,719 with its peak around the fourth century BC. 134 00:08:21,720 --> 00:08:23,249 In the time of antiquity, 135 00:08:23,250 --> 00:08:25,559 tribes that were in earth called Illyrians 136 00:08:25,560 --> 00:08:29,099 left their mark here, until the arrival of the Roman Empire, 137 00:08:29,100 --> 00:08:31,499 which conquered the Illyrian tribes. 138 00:08:31,500 --> 00:08:34,469 During the Middle Ages, Christianity spread in these parts 139 00:08:34,470 --> 00:08:36,239 and gained full momentum, 140 00:08:36,240 --> 00:08:39,869 as evidenced by the Stecak tombstones as medieval monuments, 141 00:08:39,870 --> 00:08:41,939 which speak of class affiliation 142 00:08:41,940 --> 00:08:44,219 and mostly testify to the Christian rite 143 00:08:44,220 --> 00:08:46,208 originating from Byzantium. 144 00:08:51,300 --> 00:08:54,299 More than a thousand athletes from as many as 49 countries 145 00:08:54,300 --> 00:08:56,159 competed at Sarajevo Olympics, 146 00:08:56,160 --> 00:08:59,129 while more than 4,000 journalists reported on the games. 147 00:08:59,130 --> 00:09:01,679 However, twists and turns of the competing athletes 148 00:09:01,680 --> 00:09:04,522 certainly weren't the only thing spectators could see. 149 00:09:05,635 --> 00:09:07,229 The Church of the Holy Archangel Michael 150 00:09:07,230 --> 00:09:10,739 is popularly known as the Old Orthodox Church in Bascarsija, 151 00:09:10,740 --> 00:09:12,790 and it was built around the 14th century. 152 00:09:14,190 --> 00:09:17,309 The turbulent history has taken its toll on this building, 153 00:09:17,310 --> 00:09:19,769 which is one of the oldest religious buildings 154 00:09:19,770 --> 00:09:21,689 in Bosnia and Herzegovina. 155 00:09:21,690 --> 00:09:24,179 It was burned several times throughout history, 156 00:09:24,180 --> 00:09:25,649 until it was finally restored 157 00:09:25,650 --> 00:09:27,513 at the end of the 18th century. 158 00:09:29,160 --> 00:09:30,599 Not far from the old church, 159 00:09:30,600 --> 00:09:32,939 we see one of the most magnificent buildings 160 00:09:32,940 --> 00:09:36,089 in all of Sarajevo, the Orthodox Cathedral Church 161 00:09:36,090 --> 00:09:38,699 of the Nativity of the Theotokos. 162 00:09:38,700 --> 00:09:41,549 The construction, which lasted more than a decade, 163 00:09:41,550 --> 00:09:44,939 was completed in 1874 with the consecration 164 00:09:44,940 --> 00:09:47,849 of the Bishop of Dabro-Bosnia, Paisius. 165 00:09:47,850 --> 00:09:49,619 The church was built exclusively 166 00:09:49,620 --> 00:09:51,419 through donations from the faithful, 167 00:09:51,420 --> 00:09:54,059 and represents the symbolic contribution 168 00:09:54,060 --> 00:09:57,149 of the Serbian people to the architecture of Sarajevo, 169 00:09:57,150 --> 00:09:59,759 which has its foundation in medieval Bosnia 170 00:09:59,760 --> 00:10:00,840 that started developing 171 00:10:00,841 --> 00:10:02,690 around the source of the river Bosna. 172 00:10:03,720 --> 00:10:07,619 After the 10th century, Bosnia, like other Serbian states, 173 00:10:07,620 --> 00:10:09,449 started developing independently, 174 00:10:09,450 --> 00:10:12,329 with the state of Raska, under the Nemanjic Dynasty, 175 00:10:12,330 --> 00:10:14,313 soon becoming dominant among them. 176 00:10:15,330 --> 00:10:17,369 Bosnia was originally ruled by bans, 177 00:10:17,370 --> 00:10:18,330 with the most prominent 178 00:10:18,331 --> 00:10:20,909 and notable historic ruler being Ban Kulin, 179 00:10:20,910 --> 00:10:22,949 who embodied the so-called Bosnian age 180 00:10:22,950 --> 00:10:24,689 of peace and prosperity. 181 00:10:24,690 --> 00:10:26,549 The 13th century ushered in the rule 182 00:10:26,550 --> 00:10:27,873 of the Kotromanic Dynasty. 183 00:10:29,040 --> 00:10:31,589 The most important ruler of this dynasty, 184 00:10:31,590 --> 00:10:34,019 Stefan Tvrtko Kotromanic I 185 00:10:34,020 --> 00:10:37,349 was the king of the Kingdom of Serbs and Bosnia 186 00:10:37,350 --> 00:10:39,929 and tried to unite the two medieval states 187 00:10:39,930 --> 00:10:42,119 of Bosnia and Raska. 188 00:10:42,120 --> 00:10:45,569 The 15th century witnessed the foundation of Herzegovina, 189 00:10:45,570 --> 00:10:49,889 a territory named after the title of Herceg of Saint Sava, 190 00:10:49,890 --> 00:10:53,219 the first Serbian archbishop from the Nemanjic dynasty 191 00:10:53,220 --> 00:10:54,779 which gave the Nemanjic seal 192 00:10:54,780 --> 00:10:57,359 to the state of Bosnia and Herzegovina, 193 00:10:57,360 --> 00:11:00,359 something that remains to this day. 194 00:11:00,360 --> 00:11:02,189 The Kotromanic Dynasty ruled Bosnia 195 00:11:02,190 --> 00:11:03,902 for almost two centuries. 196 00:11:03,903 --> 00:11:05,849 Now, the rise of the state of Bosnia 197 00:11:05,850 --> 00:11:09,269 was slowed down by the death of Tvrtko Kotromanic I, 198 00:11:09,270 --> 00:11:11,519 which led to dynastic power struggles. 199 00:11:11,520 --> 00:11:13,079 At the end of the 15th century, 200 00:11:13,080 --> 00:11:15,629 Bosnia fell under the rule of the Ottoman Empire, 201 00:11:15,630 --> 00:11:18,989 which was dominated by Islam and remained in this area 202 00:11:18,990 --> 00:11:22,147 until the Congress of Berlin in the late 19th century. 203 00:11:28,756 --> 00:11:31,859 More than 200,000 tickets were sold for the Olympics, 204 00:11:31,860 --> 00:11:34,889 and around two billion people watched the live broadcast. 205 00:11:34,890 --> 00:11:36,179 It must have been interesting for them 206 00:11:36,180 --> 00:11:39,239 to see scenes of a typically oriental city, 207 00:11:39,240 --> 00:11:40,649 only to then cut to scenes 208 00:11:40,650 --> 00:11:43,113 of typical Central European architecture. 209 00:11:44,250 --> 00:11:46,289 At the beginning of the 19th century, 210 00:11:46,290 --> 00:11:49,349 an uprising against the Ottomans in Serbia 211 00:11:49,350 --> 00:11:52,739 led to the creation of the Principality of Serbia. 212 00:11:52,740 --> 00:11:55,529 This was an incentive for the Serbs in Herzegovina 213 00:11:55,530 --> 00:11:59,939 to rebel against the Ottoman occupier in 1875. 214 00:11:59,940 --> 00:12:02,309 Their success was without reward, 215 00:12:02,310 --> 00:12:04,049 because Bosnia and Herzegovina 216 00:12:04,050 --> 00:12:06,959 was quickly occupied by Austria-Hungary, 217 00:12:06,960 --> 00:12:09,933 which ruled this area until the end of World War I. 218 00:12:10,920 --> 00:12:13,499 It was from here, Schonbrunn Palace, 219 00:12:13,500 --> 00:12:16,739 that the Habsburg Dynasty ruled the Austrian Empire. 220 00:12:16,740 --> 00:12:19,619 Now, the dynasty ruled for more than 600 years, 221 00:12:19,620 --> 00:12:21,899 and the internal stability of the empire 222 00:12:21,900 --> 00:12:24,959 often depended on encouraging hostilities 223 00:12:24,960 --> 00:12:27,479 between the many nations that were part of it. 224 00:12:27,480 --> 00:12:29,879 Bosnia and Herzegovina can certainly be used 225 00:12:29,880 --> 00:12:32,519 as an example of Austria-Hungarian policy 226 00:12:32,520 --> 00:12:34,649 towards the occupied nations. 227 00:12:34,650 --> 00:12:36,689 As Serbs constituted the majority 228 00:12:36,690 --> 00:12:39,479 in Bosnia and Herzegovina during the occupation 229 00:12:39,480 --> 00:12:42,959 and had a strong desire to unite all South Slavs, 230 00:12:42,960 --> 00:12:45,959 they were considered hostile by the Austrians. 231 00:12:45,960 --> 00:12:48,359 The second largest group, Muslims, 232 00:12:48,360 --> 00:12:50,699 didn't have a clear national identity, 233 00:12:50,700 --> 00:12:52,439 but the Austria-Hungarian authorities 234 00:12:52,440 --> 00:12:55,349 encouraged a new national consciousness 235 00:12:55,350 --> 00:12:59,279 in an attempt to exploit them as a counterbalance to Serbs. 236 00:12:59,280 --> 00:13:01,199 Croats, who were Catholic, 237 00:13:01,200 --> 00:13:04,049 were the smallest in number of the three major nations 238 00:13:04,050 --> 00:13:06,149 in Bosnia and Herzegovina. 239 00:13:06,150 --> 00:13:08,249 But because of their religious affiliation, 240 00:13:08,250 --> 00:13:10,379 they were favoured by Austria-Hungary 241 00:13:10,380 --> 00:13:13,139 at the expense of the other two nations. 242 00:13:13,140 --> 00:13:14,879 Sounds complicated, doesn't it? 243 00:13:14,880 --> 00:13:16,289 And this game of playing favourites 244 00:13:16,290 --> 00:13:18,599 can be seen in the architecture as well. 245 00:13:18,600 --> 00:13:21,569 During the Austria-Hungarian occupation, the magnificent 246 00:13:21,570 --> 00:13:23,879 Catholic Cathedral of the Sacred Heart of Jesus 247 00:13:23,880 --> 00:13:25,319 was built in Sarajevo, 248 00:13:25,320 --> 00:13:27,779 a Catholic school in Travnik and other cities, 249 00:13:27,780 --> 00:13:30,539 as well as in specific infrastructural, cultural, 250 00:13:30,540 --> 00:13:32,729 and economic projects. 251 00:13:32,730 --> 00:13:35,009 Every war needs a pretext. 252 00:13:35,010 --> 00:13:37,079 The political elites, who start wars 253 00:13:37,080 --> 00:13:39,839 motivated by their own self-interests, 254 00:13:39,840 --> 00:13:43,619 always seek out an event to justify the reason given 255 00:13:43,620 --> 00:13:45,809 for such a disastrous phenomenon. 256 00:13:45,810 --> 00:13:47,159 One such event happened 257 00:13:47,160 --> 00:13:49,769 because of a boyish faith in humane ideals 258 00:13:49,770 --> 00:13:51,693 right at this spot in Sarajevo. 259 00:13:52,710 --> 00:13:55,439 On June 28th, 1914, 260 00:13:55,440 --> 00:13:59,009 a member of the Young Bosnia Organisation, Gavrilo Princip, 261 00:13:59,010 --> 00:14:02,549 shot the heir to the throne of the Austria-Hungarian Empire, 262 00:14:02,550 --> 00:14:06,389 Franz Ferdinand, killing him and his wife. 263 00:14:06,390 --> 00:14:08,549 In Vienna, this act inflamed 264 00:14:08,550 --> 00:14:11,519 the already hostile attitude towards Serbia, 265 00:14:11,520 --> 00:14:14,643 with Austria-Hungary soon declaring a full-blown war. 266 00:14:15,690 --> 00:14:18,599 It is interesting that an almost identical assassination 267 00:14:18,600 --> 00:14:20,519 on an Austria-Hungarian princess, 268 00:14:20,520 --> 00:14:23,699 which was carried out by an Italian in 1898, 269 00:14:23,700 --> 00:14:25,889 wasn't used as a pretext for war. 270 00:14:25,890 --> 00:14:29,129 Austria-Hungary wanted to expand its empire to the East. 271 00:14:29,130 --> 00:14:30,659 And I know this sounds gruesome, 272 00:14:30,660 --> 00:14:32,279 but the assassination in Sarajevo 273 00:14:32,280 --> 00:14:34,979 served as an excellent excuse for that. 274 00:14:34,980 --> 00:14:36,419 However, the result was not 275 00:14:36,420 --> 00:14:38,309 what Austria-Hungary had hoped for. 276 00:14:38,310 --> 00:14:40,739 The conflict between Austria-Hungary and Serbia 277 00:14:40,740 --> 00:14:44,039 turned into World War I, which ended with the collapse 278 00:14:44,040 --> 00:14:46,649 of the Austria-Hungarian Empire that started it 279 00:14:46,650 --> 00:14:49,169 and the formation of the Kingdom of Serbs, 280 00:14:49,170 --> 00:14:52,139 Croats and Slovenes, which later changed its name 281 00:14:52,140 --> 00:14:53,999 to the Kingdom of Yugoslavia 282 00:14:54,000 --> 00:14:55,863 that existed up until World War II. 283 00:14:57,180 --> 00:15:01,139 It was here that Mesa Selimovic's words were most evident. 284 00:15:01,140 --> 00:15:03,089 Selimovic, who was born a Bosnian Muslim, 285 00:15:03,090 --> 00:15:05,009 but traced back his Serbian roots, 286 00:15:05,010 --> 00:15:07,499 said, "Man becomes free by choice, 287 00:15:07,500 --> 00:15:10,229 resistance, and disobedience." 288 00:15:10,230 --> 00:15:12,779 In 1941, demonstrators gathered here, 289 00:15:12,780 --> 00:15:14,519 in Serbia's capital Belgrade, 290 00:15:14,520 --> 00:15:17,549 to protest any form of alliance with Nazi Germany, 291 00:15:17,550 --> 00:15:20,579 the largest military force of the 20th century, 292 00:15:20,580 --> 00:15:23,909 significantly more powerful than the Kingdom of Yugoslavia. 293 00:15:23,910 --> 00:15:25,559 Despite the Kingdom of Yugoslavia 294 00:15:25,560 --> 00:15:27,689 securing a non-aggression pact, 295 00:15:27,690 --> 00:15:32,069 the Serbian people cried out "Better a grave than a slave". 296 00:15:32,070 --> 00:15:33,929 Following the people's uprising, 297 00:15:33,930 --> 00:15:36,750 Hitler invaded Yugoslavia in April 1941. 298 00:15:37,800 --> 00:15:40,829 The disastrous bombing of major cities in Serbia 299 00:15:40,830 --> 00:15:43,259 marked the beginning of the occupation. 300 00:15:43,260 --> 00:15:46,679 The first thing Hitler demanded from occupied Yugoslavia 301 00:15:46,680 --> 00:15:49,139 was to bring in the plaque that marked the spot 302 00:15:49,140 --> 00:15:52,623 where Gavrilo Princip shot and killed Archduke Ferdinand. 303 00:15:53,610 --> 00:15:57,389 The Kingdom of Yugoslavia was divided into occupation zones 304 00:15:57,390 --> 00:16:00,329 by fascist and Nazi forces. 305 00:16:00,330 --> 00:16:02,699 The liberation of Belgrade in 1944 306 00:16:02,700 --> 00:16:05,369 marked the victory of the communist-led partisans 307 00:16:05,370 --> 00:16:08,309 and led to a change in the political system of Yugoslavia. 308 00:16:08,310 --> 00:16:12,119 In 1945, the Socialist Yugoslavia was formed, 309 00:16:12,120 --> 00:16:16,169 whose first and lifelong president was Josip Broz Tito. 310 00:16:16,170 --> 00:16:19,439 Tito became known worldwide in 1948 311 00:16:19,440 --> 00:16:20,849 for rejecting the Soviets 312 00:16:20,850 --> 00:16:23,369 in their attempts to control Yugoslavia, 313 00:16:23,370 --> 00:16:25,289 and later initiating the creation 314 00:16:25,290 --> 00:16:27,089 of the Non-Aligned Movement. 315 00:16:27,090 --> 00:16:29,189 The countries that made up this movement 316 00:16:29,190 --> 00:16:30,210 didn't want to take part 317 00:16:30,211 --> 00:16:32,639 in the Cold War era division of the world 318 00:16:32,640 --> 00:16:35,669 and sought a third way in international relations. 319 00:16:35,670 --> 00:16:38,849 Despite being held four years after Tito's death, 320 00:16:38,850 --> 00:16:40,199 the Sarajevo Olympics remained 321 00:16:40,200 --> 00:16:42,509 the only Olympic games held in a country 322 00:16:42,510 --> 00:16:44,909 that was a member of the Non-Aligned Movement. 323 00:16:44,910 --> 00:16:47,609 Yugoslavia was organised on a federal principle 324 00:16:47,610 --> 00:16:52,079 with six republics: Serbia, Slovenia, Croatia, 325 00:16:52,080 --> 00:16:55,593 Macedonia, Montenegro, and Bosnia and Herzegovina. 326 00:16:57,300 --> 00:16:59,639 You're listening to something called a Sevdalinka, 327 00:16:59,640 --> 00:17:02,729 a song authentic to the area of Bosnia and Herzegovina. 328 00:17:02,730 --> 00:17:04,499 However, it could always be heard 329 00:17:04,500 --> 00:17:06,929 throughout Serbia and other republics, 330 00:17:06,930 --> 00:17:09,419 which speaks of the influence of culture from this area 331 00:17:09,420 --> 00:17:10,620 throughout Yugoslavia. 332 00:17:19,188 --> 00:17:20,909 The people in Yugoslavia also listen 333 00:17:20,910 --> 00:17:23,279 to another type of music from Sarajevo, 334 00:17:23,280 --> 00:17:25,649 like songs of Bijelo Dugme. 335 00:17:25,650 --> 00:17:29,429 In the 1970s, a rock band from Sarajevo named Bijelo Dugme 336 00:17:29,430 --> 00:17:32,249 held the biggest rock concert in Yugoslavia's history, 337 00:17:32,250 --> 00:17:35,077 right here in the country's capital Belgrade. 338 00:17:42,240 --> 00:17:43,799 The youth of many Yugoslavs 339 00:17:43,800 --> 00:17:46,439 was marked by other rock bands from Sarajevo, 340 00:17:46,440 --> 00:17:51,239 such as Indexi, Zabranjeno pusenje, or Crvena jabuka. 341 00:17:51,240 --> 00:17:53,579 Rock bands aside, many ordinary citizens 342 00:17:53,580 --> 00:17:55,649 who contributed to the state through their hard work 343 00:17:55,650 --> 00:17:56,939 were also popular. 344 00:17:56,940 --> 00:17:58,829 They were placed on bank notes 345 00:17:58,830 --> 00:18:01,109 of Yugoslavia's national currency, the dinar. 346 00:18:01,110 --> 00:18:06,110 And the most famous were Alija Sirotanovic and Arif Heralic, 347 00:18:06,510 --> 00:18:08,339 who were from Bosnia and Herzegovina. 348 00:18:08,340 --> 00:18:12,269 The two were known as Udarniks or shock workers. 349 00:18:12,270 --> 00:18:14,009 Udarniks were highly productive workers 350 00:18:14,010 --> 00:18:17,189 known for their superproductive, enthusiastic labour, 351 00:18:17,190 --> 00:18:19,049 and incredible results. 352 00:18:19,050 --> 00:18:21,299 This award promoted economic development 353 00:18:21,300 --> 00:18:24,119 that was evident in Bosnia and Herzegovina. 354 00:18:24,120 --> 00:18:27,959 After Tito's death in 1980, Yugoslavia somewhat opened up 355 00:18:27,960 --> 00:18:30,539 to criticism of social problems. 356 00:18:30,540 --> 00:18:32,009 The Top List of the Surrealists 357 00:18:32,010 --> 00:18:35,549 started airing a radio comedy segment in the early 1980s, 358 00:18:35,550 --> 00:18:38,999 later becoming a sketch comedy and variety television show 359 00:18:39,000 --> 00:18:41,669 which aired on Sarajevo TV and, to an extent, 360 00:18:41,670 --> 00:18:43,589 on Yugoslav radio television. 361 00:18:43,590 --> 00:18:45,899 The show sketches discussed social issues 362 00:18:45,900 --> 00:18:50,339 in a satirical manner, often predicting events to come. 363 00:18:50,340 --> 00:18:53,609 In criticising the extensive bureaucratic apparatus, 364 00:18:53,610 --> 00:18:55,139 the surrealists filmed a sketch 365 00:18:55,140 --> 00:18:56,519 in which government officials 366 00:18:56,520 --> 00:18:58,739 and politicians staged a strike 367 00:18:58,740 --> 00:19:01,739 because industrial workers were demanding their paychecks 368 00:19:01,740 --> 00:19:04,631 and the citizens constantly had their own requests. 369 00:19:04,632 --> 00:19:07,381 They're wasteful and keep asking for paychecks... 370 00:19:07,382 --> 00:19:08,776 No more! 371 00:19:10,800 --> 00:19:12,839 The already seriously deteriorated 372 00:19:12,840 --> 00:19:14,849 financial status of the citizens 373 00:19:14,850 --> 00:19:18,059 was presented satirically in the show "Prize Robbery" 374 00:19:18,060 --> 00:19:20,249 in which citizens participated in a game 375 00:19:20,250 --> 00:19:22,386 in which they were deprived of their property. 376 00:19:22,387 --> 00:19:24,839 As you know, we're taking their TV now. 377 00:19:24,840 --> 00:19:27,222 Let's hope the lucky losers are at home. 378 00:19:27,223 --> 00:19:29,788 I see the TV is a "Hyundai" from South Korea. 379 00:19:29,789 --> 00:19:30,630 A "Hyundai"?! 380 00:19:30,631 --> 00:19:32,309 At the beginning of the 1990s, 381 00:19:32,310 --> 00:19:34,289 as ethnic tensions were rising, 382 00:19:34,290 --> 00:19:37,139 the surrealists staged a fake news programme 383 00:19:37,140 --> 00:19:39,179 declaring that Bosnia and Herzegovina 384 00:19:39,180 --> 00:19:42,479 is threatened by an outbreak of peace. 385 00:19:42,480 --> 00:19:45,269 Humour through satire, as a way of dealing with problems 386 00:19:45,270 --> 00:19:48,149 and shortcomings, remains present to this day 387 00:19:48,150 --> 00:19:49,799 in Bosnia and Herzegovina. 388 00:19:49,800 --> 00:19:51,569 But in addition to this phenomenon, 389 00:19:51,570 --> 00:19:54,209 there are hidden dangers for the uninformed visitor. 390 00:19:54,210 --> 00:19:55,769 Here you have to be very careful. 391 00:19:55,770 --> 00:19:57,839 For example, when it comes to food, 392 00:19:57,840 --> 00:20:00,509 especially when it comes to a specialty, burek, 393 00:20:00,510 --> 00:20:01,926 if you accidentally order... 394 00:20:01,927 --> 00:20:03,127 Burek with cheese. 395 00:20:06,198 --> 00:20:08,181 I mean... with potatoes? 396 00:20:11,411 --> 00:20:12,611 Some cream? 397 00:20:15,758 --> 00:20:17,465 Burek is only with meat. 398 00:20:24,660 --> 00:20:26,009 The cuisine of this area 399 00:20:26,010 --> 00:20:29,429 is characterised by the dynamics of mixing cultures 400 00:20:29,430 --> 00:20:32,519 so the dishes are very colourful and delicious, 401 00:20:32,520 --> 00:20:35,099 thanks to the spices that come from the orient. 402 00:20:35,100 --> 00:20:38,339 Every visitor has to try the Bosnian pot, 403 00:20:38,340 --> 00:20:42,599 tufahije, baklava, sogan dolma, cevapi, 404 00:20:42,600 --> 00:20:44,489 and many other dishes. 405 00:20:44,490 --> 00:20:47,519 However, I definitely first recommend you try burek. 406 00:20:47,520 --> 00:20:49,529 The dough, made using old techniques, 407 00:20:49,530 --> 00:20:50,730 with a delicious filling 408 00:20:50,731 --> 00:20:53,519 is something most people here consume every day, 409 00:20:53,520 --> 00:20:55,189 and it's something that holds a special place 410 00:20:55,190 --> 00:20:58,886 in the hearts of all who live in Bosnia and Herzegovina. 411 00:21:05,250 --> 00:21:08,099 After Jure Franko won the first ever 412 00:21:08,100 --> 00:21:10,169 Winter Olympics medal for Yugoslavia 413 00:21:10,170 --> 00:21:11,609 at the Games in Sarajevo, 414 00:21:11,610 --> 00:21:13,746 Franko was celebrated with the slogan 415 00:21:13,747 --> 00:21:16,746 "I love Jurek more than burek." 416 00:21:16,747 --> 00:21:18,265 Jure! Jure! 417 00:21:18,266 --> 00:21:19,099 Jure! Jure! 418 00:21:19,100 --> 00:21:20,999 However, the mix of cultures wasn't evident 419 00:21:21,000 --> 00:21:23,669 in just the food, but also in the political system 420 00:21:23,670 --> 00:21:25,829 of the socialist Bosnia and Herzegovina 421 00:21:25,830 --> 00:21:27,839 inhabited by its constituent nations, 422 00:21:27,840 --> 00:21:30,989 Serbs, Croats, and Muslims. 423 00:21:30,990 --> 00:21:31,860 Maybe you're confused 424 00:21:31,861 --> 00:21:33,899 why we're talking about Muslims as a nation 425 00:21:33,900 --> 00:21:35,999 when you know that Muslims are a religious group, 426 00:21:36,000 --> 00:21:38,249 which is different from an ethnic group. 427 00:21:38,250 --> 00:21:41,039 Well, in 1971, the Yugoslav census 428 00:21:41,040 --> 00:21:43,169 allowed members of Bosnia and Herzegovina's 429 00:21:43,170 --> 00:21:45,629 Muslim religious community to declare themselves 430 00:21:45,630 --> 00:21:48,243 as Muslim by ethnicity for the first time. 431 00:21:49,654 --> 00:21:52,353 The moment when someone is declared a nation 432 00:21:52,354 --> 00:21:54,594 as is the case in linguistics, 433 00:21:54,595 --> 00:21:56,440 he becomes a political nation, 434 00:21:56,441 --> 00:21:58,548 which, given the time, 435 00:21:58,549 --> 00:22:02,169 stops caring about the past. 436 00:22:02,170 --> 00:22:03,959 Their historical genesis can be traced back 437 00:22:03,960 --> 00:22:06,389 to the Balkan conquest of the Ottoman Empire, 438 00:22:06,390 --> 00:22:08,369 which was predominantly Muslim. 439 00:22:08,370 --> 00:22:12,419 In 1971, many identified their ethnicity as Muslim. 440 00:22:12,420 --> 00:22:16,739 While as of 1993, they identify as Bosniak. 441 00:22:16,740 --> 00:22:19,169 Serbs, Bosniaks, and Croats 442 00:22:19,170 --> 00:22:21,029 all participated in the creation 443 00:22:21,030 --> 00:22:24,059 of Bosnia and Herzegovina's cultural uniqueness. 444 00:22:24,060 --> 00:22:25,769 And in the Socialist Yugoslavia, 445 00:22:25,770 --> 00:22:28,079 the system was devised in such a way 446 00:22:28,080 --> 00:22:30,449 that no matter which group was greater in number, 447 00:22:30,450 --> 00:22:32,489 they all had an equal opportunity 448 00:22:32,490 --> 00:22:34,473 to participate in policymaking. 449 00:22:37,920 --> 00:22:39,779 Mostar is a Herzegovinian city 450 00:22:39,780 --> 00:22:41,789 named after the guardians of the bridges 451 00:22:41,790 --> 00:22:43,889 and bridge builders on the river Neretva 452 00:22:43,890 --> 00:22:45,389 where it's located. 453 00:22:45,390 --> 00:22:46,560 And the Old Bridge 454 00:22:46,561 --> 00:22:48,813 is the most recognisable part of the city. 455 00:22:51,150 --> 00:22:53,429 The bridge was built during the Ottoman occupation 456 00:22:53,430 --> 00:22:55,019 in the 16th century, 457 00:22:55,020 --> 00:22:57,179 but it was demolished by Croatian forces 458 00:22:57,180 --> 00:22:59,549 during the war in 1993. 459 00:22:59,550 --> 00:23:01,259 The spirit of the people who live here 460 00:23:01,260 --> 00:23:03,396 is reflected in the black humour joke that, 461 00:23:03,397 --> 00:23:07,349 "After the demolition, they'll build an even older bridge." 462 00:23:07,350 --> 00:23:09,929 After a war that's destroyed much of the historic city, 463 00:23:09,930 --> 00:23:12,449 the task of rebuilding is finally underway. 464 00:23:12,450 --> 00:23:15,149 The rebuild bridge is called the New Old Bridge, 465 00:23:15,150 --> 00:23:17,759 and a specific tradition is connected to it, 466 00:23:17,760 --> 00:23:21,179 which speaks of the courage of Herzegovinian young men. 467 00:23:21,180 --> 00:23:23,823 And that tradition looks like this. 468 00:24:03,472 --> 00:24:05,999 Herzegovinian young men, known for their courage, 469 00:24:06,000 --> 00:24:08,219 certainly took the lead in such jumps. 470 00:24:08,220 --> 00:24:10,949 But the period after the 1984 Olympics 471 00:24:10,950 --> 00:24:14,073 brought new types of confirmation of this characteristic. 472 00:24:17,940 --> 00:24:20,699 If you were a young guy during the Sarajevo Olympics, 473 00:24:20,700 --> 00:24:22,919 you knew that a Volkswagen Golf 474 00:24:22,920 --> 00:24:25,353 worked wonders for your reputation in the city. 475 00:24:31,264 --> 00:24:34,271 Not many had a Volkswagen Golf back then, 476 00:24:34,272 --> 00:24:36,137 it just started getting made in Vogosca, 477 00:24:36,138 --> 00:24:40,595 but whoever had it could easily get a girl. 478 00:24:40,596 --> 00:24:42,012 I didn't have a Golf 479 00:24:42,013 --> 00:24:45,495 but I had other skills that helped with the ladies. 480 00:24:45,496 --> 00:24:47,070 I don't want to brag, 481 00:24:47,071 --> 00:24:50,870 but you can imagine what that was like at age 20. 482 00:24:50,871 --> 00:24:55,871 What was life in Sarajevo like for a 20-year-old 483 00:24:56,011 --> 00:24:59,360 during the Winter Olympics? 484 00:24:59,361 --> 00:25:01,493 It was more than good. 485 00:25:01,494 --> 00:25:05,235 An incredible euphoria swept the region. 486 00:25:05,236 --> 00:25:08,401 A great atmosphere, awesome vibes, 487 00:25:08,402 --> 00:25:11,984 the Olympic spirit that flared up and spread then 488 00:25:11,985 --> 00:25:15,326 still lives in the generation of that time. 489 00:25:15,327 --> 00:25:17,816 It was truly unique. 490 00:25:17,817 --> 00:25:20,465 We all gave it our best to be good hosts, 491 00:25:20,466 --> 00:25:22,574 to tidy up our balconies, 492 00:25:22,575 --> 00:25:26,115 yards, buildings, facades, etc. 493 00:25:26,116 --> 00:25:28,956 We were all like one 494 00:25:28,957 --> 00:25:33,489 and succeeded in being good hosts. 495 00:25:39,300 --> 00:25:41,129 The expansion of cooperation 496 00:25:41,130 --> 00:25:43,799 with the German auto-making giant Volkswagen 497 00:25:43,800 --> 00:25:45,359 was supposed to be the pinnacle 498 00:25:45,360 --> 00:25:48,449 of Bosnia and Herzegovina's economic development. 499 00:25:48,450 --> 00:25:51,269 But in 1989, the Berlin Wall fell. 500 00:25:51,270 --> 00:25:52,410 And the very next year, 501 00:25:52,411 --> 00:25:55,409 the 14th Congress of the Communist Party in Belgrade 502 00:25:55,410 --> 00:25:57,209 saw the delegations of the republics 503 00:25:57,210 --> 00:25:59,969 of Slovenia and Croatia leave the party. 504 00:25:59,970 --> 00:26:02,549 With Slovenia and Croatia's declarations of independence, 505 00:26:02,550 --> 00:26:05,159 the stable rule of the Communist Party of Yugoslavia 506 00:26:05,160 --> 00:26:08,279 turned into a civil war in 1991. 507 00:26:08,280 --> 00:26:10,649 Thus, at the end of the 20th century, 508 00:26:10,650 --> 00:26:13,379 we saw that history didn't leave scars here, 509 00:26:13,380 --> 00:26:15,753 but rather open wounds. 510 00:26:35,340 --> 00:26:37,829 The dissolution of the Christian church in 1054 511 00:26:37,830 --> 00:26:41,099 into a western Catholic church with its centre in Rome 512 00:26:41,100 --> 00:26:42,839 and an Eastern Orthodox church 513 00:26:42,840 --> 00:26:44,639 with its centre in Constantinople 514 00:26:44,640 --> 00:26:46,949 brought a millennium of bloody religious wars 515 00:26:46,950 --> 00:26:49,079 to the area of Southeast Europe. 516 00:26:49,080 --> 00:26:52,289 The understanding of religion as being a reason to go to war 517 00:26:52,290 --> 00:26:54,809 appeared as a relic at the end of the 20th century 518 00:26:54,810 --> 00:26:57,179 right here around the river Bosna, 519 00:26:57,180 --> 00:26:59,009 which was, and remains, 520 00:26:59,010 --> 00:27:00,810 one of the borders of this division. 521 00:27:01,950 --> 00:27:03,060 As the central government 522 00:27:03,061 --> 00:27:05,009 of the Communist Party was weakening, 523 00:27:05,010 --> 00:27:07,649 the major ethnic groups in Bosnia and Herzegovina 524 00:27:07,650 --> 00:27:10,499 all founded their national political parties. 525 00:27:10,500 --> 00:27:14,309 Although the so-called Croatian Democratic Union or HDZ 526 00:27:14,310 --> 00:27:18,389 was founded by Franjo Tudman in early 1990 in Croatia. 527 00:27:18,390 --> 00:27:21,869 The HDZ operated in Bosnia and Herzegovina itself 528 00:27:21,870 --> 00:27:24,659 representing the interests of Croats there. 529 00:27:24,660 --> 00:27:26,279 In May of 1990, 530 00:27:26,280 --> 00:27:29,939 the Islamist Party of Democratic Action or SDA 531 00:27:29,940 --> 00:27:33,419 was founded by Alija Izetbegovic in Bosnia and Herzegovina 532 00:27:33,420 --> 00:27:35,909 representing the interests of Muslims. 533 00:27:35,910 --> 00:27:37,023 The Serbs in that republic 534 00:27:37,024 --> 00:27:39,689 were the last to form their national party. 535 00:27:39,690 --> 00:27:42,929 The Serbian Democratic Party or SDS 536 00:27:42,930 --> 00:27:46,079 led by Sarajevo psychiatrist, Radovan Karadzic, 537 00:27:46,080 --> 00:27:48,179 representing the political will of Serbs 538 00:27:48,180 --> 00:27:50,669 in Bosnia and Herzegovina. 539 00:27:50,670 --> 00:27:53,939 After the first multi-party elections in the republic, 540 00:27:53,940 --> 00:27:58,940 the Muslim SDA took 86 seats, the Serb SDS 72 seats, 541 00:27:59,040 --> 00:28:02,729 and the Croat HDZ 45 seats. 542 00:28:02,730 --> 00:28:04,439 According to the constitution, 543 00:28:04,440 --> 00:28:06,449 major decisions could not have been made 544 00:28:06,450 --> 00:28:10,109 without a consensus reached by all three nations, 545 00:28:10,110 --> 00:28:12,779 but the political leaders of the Muslims and Croats 546 00:28:12,780 --> 00:28:14,823 decided to ignore this golden rule. 547 00:28:15,870 --> 00:28:17,999 It's considered that the creation of modern nations 548 00:28:18,000 --> 00:28:21,359 took place at the end of the 18th and 19th century 549 00:28:21,360 --> 00:28:23,759 with the French, German, and Italian nations 550 00:28:23,760 --> 00:28:25,889 serving as the best examples. 551 00:28:25,890 --> 00:28:26,940 But the Serbian people 552 00:28:26,941 --> 00:28:28,589 don't owe their awareness of belonging 553 00:28:28,590 --> 00:28:31,079 to the constitution of the state itself, 554 00:28:31,080 --> 00:28:32,823 but to their ancient identity. 555 00:28:34,320 --> 00:28:36,779 In one of the most important historical writings 556 00:28:36,780 --> 00:28:39,689 from the 10th century, De Administrando Imperio, 557 00:28:39,690 --> 00:28:42,899 written by Byzantine emperor Constantine VII, 558 00:28:42,900 --> 00:28:45,539 he mentions the small land of Bosnia 559 00:28:45,540 --> 00:28:49,469 and these towns there, he says, are inhabited by Serbs. 560 00:28:49,470 --> 00:28:52,919 The bans or rulers in Bosnia in the early Middle Ages 561 00:28:52,920 --> 00:28:55,199 were more or less in a vassal position 562 00:28:55,200 --> 00:28:57,479 in relation to the powerful Hungary, 563 00:28:57,480 --> 00:28:59,579 but the ethnic composition of their land 564 00:28:59,580 --> 00:29:01,409 posed no dilemma for them. 565 00:29:01,410 --> 00:29:03,578 In his charter from 1249, 566 00:29:03,579 --> 00:29:07,439 Ban Matej Ninoslav signed himself as Matej Stefan, 567 00:29:07,440 --> 00:29:08,939 reflective of his connection 568 00:29:08,940 --> 00:29:10,889 with the Serbian Nemanjic dynasty 569 00:29:10,890 --> 00:29:14,129 as all its members also took the name Stefan. 570 00:29:14,130 --> 00:29:16,769 The ban sees his subjects as Serbs, 571 00:29:16,770 --> 00:29:19,979 while Pope Urban III, in the Dubrovnik charter, 572 00:29:19,980 --> 00:29:23,279 even sees Bosnia itself ruled by Kulin Ban 573 00:29:23,280 --> 00:29:25,559 as a part of Serbia. 574 00:29:25,560 --> 00:29:26,909 Seven centuries ago, 575 00:29:26,910 --> 00:29:30,179 right here at the Mileseva Monastery in present day Serbia, 576 00:29:30,180 --> 00:29:32,399 the most important Bosnian ruler, 577 00:29:32,400 --> 00:29:34,889 Tvrtko Kotromanic I was crowned. 578 00:29:34,890 --> 00:29:37,739 And with this act, he put a stamp on the identity 579 00:29:37,740 --> 00:29:39,446 of the people of Bosnia. 580 00:29:39,447 --> 00:29:42,599 Tvrtko Kotromanic I was crowned in front of the relics 581 00:29:42,600 --> 00:29:45,919 of the most important Nemanjic, Saint Sava. 582 00:29:45,920 --> 00:29:47,879 Tvrtko took the name Stefan, 583 00:29:47,880 --> 00:29:49,859 put lilies on his coat of arms 584 00:29:49,860 --> 00:29:54,059 and in his signature called himself the King of the Serbs. 585 00:29:54,060 --> 00:29:57,659 These gestures are all typical of the Nemanjic Dynasty, 586 00:29:57,660 --> 00:30:01,289 which show how the most significant ruler of medieval Bosnia 587 00:30:01,290 --> 00:30:03,633 saw himself and his people. 588 00:30:06,000 --> 00:30:07,919 This is the flag of Bosnia and Herzegovina 589 00:30:07,920 --> 00:30:10,079 that the Bosniaks designed during the war years, 590 00:30:10,080 --> 00:30:12,959 and it was official up until 1998. 591 00:30:12,960 --> 00:30:15,059 They used the same emblem on the uniform 592 00:30:15,060 --> 00:30:17,669 of the Bosniak-dominated army of Bosnia and Herzegovina 593 00:30:17,670 --> 00:30:18,899 during the war. 594 00:30:18,900 --> 00:30:21,869 This is the flag of Serbia. 595 00:30:21,870 --> 00:30:25,949 Look closer. Remarkable resemblance. 596 00:30:25,950 --> 00:30:27,959 However, Bosniaks didn't see the lilies 597 00:30:27,960 --> 00:30:29,939 as the Nemanjic heritage of Bosnia, 598 00:30:29,940 --> 00:30:33,869 which they factually represent but as its exact antithesis, 599 00:30:33,870 --> 00:30:36,659 a negation of Bosnia's own history. 600 00:30:36,660 --> 00:30:40,589 The Nemanjic legacy was also denied in the name Herzegovina 601 00:30:40,590 --> 00:30:44,009 despite it originating from the medieval area of Hum, 602 00:30:44,010 --> 00:30:47,039 which the founder of the Nemanjic Dynasty, Stefan Nemanja, 603 00:30:47,040 --> 00:30:48,299 called his homeland 604 00:30:48,300 --> 00:30:50,729 and was ruled by the most prominent members 605 00:30:50,730 --> 00:30:51,930 of the Serbian court. 606 00:30:54,090 --> 00:30:56,339 To understand this historical ignorance, 607 00:30:56,340 --> 00:30:59,309 we have to discuss the Stecak tombstones. 608 00:30:59,310 --> 00:31:00,143 Now, we mentioned 609 00:31:00,144 --> 00:31:01,799 that they were erected here in the Middle Ages 610 00:31:01,800 --> 00:31:04,469 and that Herzegovina has the largest number of them. 611 00:31:04,470 --> 00:31:07,079 Just in one town, here in Nevesinje, 612 00:31:07,080 --> 00:31:09,209 there are more of these tombstones 613 00:31:09,210 --> 00:31:11,489 than in all of Central Bosnia. 614 00:31:11,490 --> 00:31:13,859 And this site is considered to be the place 615 00:31:13,860 --> 00:31:15,993 where the medieval state originated. 616 00:31:17,010 --> 00:31:20,009 These medieval tombstones are on UNESCO's list 617 00:31:20,010 --> 00:31:21,569 of intangible heritage. 618 00:31:21,570 --> 00:31:23,219 In the form of an epitaph, 619 00:31:23,220 --> 00:31:25,619 they expressed a certain social status 620 00:31:25,620 --> 00:31:29,309 or some peculiarity for the one who was buried there. 621 00:31:29,310 --> 00:31:31,079 At the time that the Stecak tombstones 622 00:31:31,080 --> 00:31:34,349 were already being built in Bosnia, Bogomilism appeared, 623 00:31:34,350 --> 00:31:36,149 an autochthonous response to the people 624 00:31:36,150 --> 00:31:39,869 who weren't close to either Orthodox or Catholic Christians. 625 00:31:39,870 --> 00:31:42,239 Both churches considered them heretics. 626 00:31:42,240 --> 00:31:45,479 Now, some historians claim that the Stecak tombstones 627 00:31:45,480 --> 00:31:46,859 were linked to the Bogomils 628 00:31:46,860 --> 00:31:49,409 through inscriptions and paintings found on them, 629 00:31:49,410 --> 00:31:52,109 and this claim is used by many Bosniaks today 630 00:31:52,110 --> 00:31:55,589 to try to present themselves as descendants of the Bogomils 631 00:31:55,590 --> 00:31:57,539 and to argue that their genesis 632 00:31:57,540 --> 00:32:01,889 can in no way be traced to Serbs or Croats. 633 00:32:01,890 --> 00:32:04,469 However, the inscription on a Stecak tombstone 634 00:32:04,470 --> 00:32:06,839 doesn't deal with religious affiliation, 635 00:32:06,840 --> 00:32:09,869 but rather tries to emphasise social status, 636 00:32:09,870 --> 00:32:13,229 while the Bogomils were against anything that is material, 637 00:32:13,230 --> 00:32:15,753 including the construction of tombstones. 638 00:32:16,860 --> 00:32:19,139 The Cajnice Gospel, a liturgical book 639 00:32:19,140 --> 00:32:20,579 written in the 15th century, 640 00:32:20,580 --> 00:32:22,739 is one of the most important Cyrillic writings 641 00:32:22,740 --> 00:32:25,289 from the territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina. 642 00:32:25,290 --> 00:32:28,199 The strong presence of Byzantine rituals and emergence 643 00:32:28,200 --> 00:32:30,719 of some of the most important Cyrillic writings 644 00:32:30,720 --> 00:32:34,199 demonstrates a formed identity of Serbs in this area 645 00:32:34,200 --> 00:32:37,071 in the first centuries of the second millennium. 646 00:32:37,072 --> 00:32:39,562 A nation can be defined 647 00:32:39,563 --> 00:32:42,178 as a community tied by a common language. 648 00:32:42,179 --> 00:32:45,961 This is the strength of a nation 649 00:32:45,962 --> 00:32:49,577 and not, as some philosophers consider it, 650 00:32:49,578 --> 00:32:51,934 a "tribal construct". 651 00:32:51,935 --> 00:32:53,942 It is the last line of defense 652 00:32:53,943 --> 00:32:57,114 of a kind of culture that is threatened. 653 00:32:57,115 --> 00:32:59,519 The worldview of a person living in the Middle Ages 654 00:32:59,520 --> 00:33:01,679 was largely defined by religion. 655 00:33:01,680 --> 00:33:03,989 Depending on which religion you belong to, 656 00:33:03,990 --> 00:33:06,599 you'd be a part of a certain cultural pattern. 657 00:33:06,600 --> 00:33:09,299 Catholics used the Latin language and script 658 00:33:09,300 --> 00:33:10,619 while Orthodox Christians 659 00:33:10,620 --> 00:33:13,079 used the Greek language and alphabet. 660 00:33:13,080 --> 00:33:15,809 As Serbs accepted Christianity from Byzantium 661 00:33:15,810 --> 00:33:17,189 in the ninth century 662 00:33:17,190 --> 00:33:20,039 but didn't originate from a Greek-speaking area, 663 00:33:20,040 --> 00:33:22,859 an authentic script for understanding liturgical books 664 00:33:22,860 --> 00:33:25,079 was developed, Cyrillic. 665 00:33:25,080 --> 00:33:27,959 The Serbian Cyrillic alphabet remains a feature 666 00:33:27,960 --> 00:33:30,389 of Serbian culture to this day, 667 00:33:30,390 --> 00:33:33,479 but it was also very present in medieval Bosnia. 668 00:33:33,480 --> 00:33:35,969 For example, in the Charter of Kulin Ban 669 00:33:35,970 --> 00:33:38,969 and in Miroslav's Gospel, which is still preserved 670 00:33:38,970 --> 00:33:41,099 as one of the most important monuments 671 00:33:41,100 --> 00:33:43,120 of Serbian cultural heritage. 672 00:33:47,550 --> 00:33:48,839 Criticising democracy, 673 00:33:48,840 --> 00:33:51,216 English philosopher Thomas Hobbes argued that, 674 00:33:51,217 --> 00:33:54,539 "In absolutism power can be abused by one man, 675 00:33:54,540 --> 00:33:57,387 while in democracy it can be abused by many more." 676 00:33:58,950 --> 00:34:01,859 Alija Izetbegovic, the ideologue, founder, 677 00:34:01,860 --> 00:34:05,549 and leader of the Party of Democratic Action in the 1990s, 678 00:34:05,550 --> 00:34:09,389 was sentenced to 14 years of prison in 1983 679 00:34:09,390 --> 00:34:11,429 in the then Socialist Yugoslavia, 680 00:34:11,430 --> 00:34:13,529 along with nine other accomplices, 681 00:34:13,530 --> 00:34:16,559 for Muslim nationalism and hostile propaganda. 682 00:34:16,560 --> 00:34:18,719 Seven years later, the same year 683 00:34:18,720 --> 00:34:21,509 when Izetbegovic founded his political party, 684 00:34:21,510 --> 00:34:22,889 the first edition of his book 685 00:34:22,890 --> 00:34:26,099 called "The Islamic Declaration" was published. 686 00:34:26,100 --> 00:34:29,519 In it he explicitly said that the Islamic movement 687 00:34:29,520 --> 00:34:33,029 must take power when it becomes strong enough in numbers. 688 00:34:33,030 --> 00:34:36,479 And when it takes over, it should create a new government 689 00:34:36,480 --> 00:34:40,979 which corresponds exclusively to the Islamic worldview. 690 00:34:40,980 --> 00:34:42,839 Following what he himself wrote, 691 00:34:42,840 --> 00:34:44,819 "there is no peace or coexistence 692 00:34:44,820 --> 00:34:47,669 between the Islamic faith and non-Islamic social 693 00:34:47,670 --> 00:34:50,121 and political institutions", 694 00:34:50,122 --> 00:34:53,129 Izetbegovic wanted an independent Bosnia and Herzegovina. 695 00:34:53,130 --> 00:34:54,120 And the Croats, 696 00:34:54,121 --> 00:34:56,129 following the example of neighbouring Croatia 697 00:34:56,130 --> 00:34:58,079 which had already declared independence, 698 00:34:58,080 --> 00:34:59,759 also wanted to secede. 699 00:34:59,760 --> 00:35:01,319 Taught by their own history, 700 00:35:01,320 --> 00:35:04,679 the Serbs saw their survival in a union with Serbia, 701 00:35:04,680 --> 00:35:06,659 that is in Yugoslavia. 702 00:35:06,660 --> 00:35:08,069 And they were ready to resolve 703 00:35:08,070 --> 00:35:10,295 any disagreements by consensus. 704 00:35:10,296 --> 00:35:13,344 We've all decided there would be no outvoting. 705 00:35:13,345 --> 00:35:15,203 No decision of this Assembly 706 00:35:15,204 --> 00:35:17,186 is worth any potential divisions 707 00:35:17,187 --> 00:35:18,719 in Bosnia and Herzegovina. 708 00:35:18,720 --> 00:35:20,129 But they were duped. 709 00:35:20,130 --> 00:35:22,259 After several unsuccessful attempts 710 00:35:22,260 --> 00:35:26,069 for a unilateral decision by Muslim and Croat MPs, 711 00:35:26,070 --> 00:35:28,889 on October 14th, 1991, 712 00:35:28,890 --> 00:35:30,749 as the session of Bosnia and Herzegovina's 713 00:35:30,750 --> 00:35:32,304 parliament was ending... 714 00:35:32,305 --> 00:35:33,488 I'm ending the session, 715 00:35:33,489 --> 00:35:35,099 thank you for your presence. 716 00:35:35,100 --> 00:35:39,029 Muslim and Croat MPs waited for the Serb MPs to leave 717 00:35:39,030 --> 00:35:41,339 and then, well after midnight, 718 00:35:41,340 --> 00:35:43,169 without the presence of Serbs, 719 00:35:43,170 --> 00:35:45,839 they adopted the memorandum of sovereignty 720 00:35:45,840 --> 00:35:47,493 of Bosnia and Herzegovina. 721 00:35:52,110 --> 00:35:53,459 Making crucial decisions 722 00:35:53,460 --> 00:35:56,579 that affect the destinies of millions of people in secret 723 00:35:56,580 --> 00:35:58,049 in the wee hours of the night 724 00:35:58,050 --> 00:36:00,843 is reminiscent of a Sevdalinka song. 725 00:36:02,520 --> 00:36:07,387 Mujo is horse shoeing in the moonlight. 726 00:36:16,308 --> 00:36:21,308 Mujo's horse shoeing, his mother is cursing him. 727 00:36:38,145 --> 00:36:42,820 My son, 728 00:36:46,641 --> 00:36:50,244 listen to your mother, 729 00:36:54,633 --> 00:36:59,566 horse shoeing isn't done in the moonlight, 730 00:37:00,983 --> 00:37:05,966 but at daytime in the sunlight. 731 00:37:16,170 --> 00:37:19,109 He talks about a young man criticised by his wise mother, 732 00:37:19,110 --> 00:37:21,959 who says that important work isn't done at night. 733 00:37:21,960 --> 00:37:24,209 He justifies it by being in love. 734 00:37:24,210 --> 00:37:27,243 However, what excuse did the much older MPs have? 735 00:37:30,690 --> 00:37:33,449 The October 15th decision was a consequence 736 00:37:33,450 --> 00:37:36,779 of a clear desire expressed by Alija Izetbegovic 737 00:37:36,780 --> 00:37:40,019 in his own words during a parliamentary session 738 00:37:40,020 --> 00:37:41,510 of the same year. 739 00:37:43,140 --> 00:37:45,509 "I would sacrifice peace 740 00:37:45,510 --> 00:37:48,209 for a sovereign Bosnia and Herzegovina. 741 00:37:48,210 --> 00:37:52,979 For peace, I would not sacrifice sovereignty." 742 00:37:52,980 --> 00:37:54,449 The message was clear. 743 00:37:54,450 --> 00:37:57,749 Decisions would no longer be made by consensus, 744 00:37:57,750 --> 00:38:02,750 but rather by outvoting the Serbs, even at the cost of war. 745 00:38:02,765 --> 00:38:04,397 War is not our goal, 746 00:38:04,398 --> 00:38:06,597 but fighting would be the means to achieve our goal 747 00:38:06,598 --> 00:38:08,909 if no other way is possible. 748 00:38:08,910 --> 00:38:11,099 The Serbs are a nation whose collective memory 749 00:38:11,100 --> 00:38:13,079 dates back more than a millennium. 750 00:38:13,080 --> 00:38:15,869 And in that memory, the era of the Ottoman occupation 751 00:38:15,870 --> 00:38:17,549 is certainly engraved, 752 00:38:17,550 --> 00:38:21,140 a time when their rights were extremely endangered. 753 00:38:21,141 --> 00:38:25,149 In Ottoman-ruled Bosnia and Herzegovina, 754 00:38:25,150 --> 00:38:27,073 in its spahiluks, 755 00:38:27,074 --> 00:38:32,006 as they called the territories governed by local vassals, 756 00:38:32,007 --> 00:38:36,752 there were 35 kanuns - Ottoman laws, 757 00:38:36,753 --> 00:38:40,652 And in those 35 kanuns, they wrote down in detail 758 00:38:40,653 --> 00:38:44,210 that if you wanted to restore a destroyed church 759 00:38:44,211 --> 00:38:48,226 or, better yet, build a new one - 760 00:38:48,227 --> 00:38:49,148 you couldn't. 761 00:38:49,149 --> 00:38:54,148 The complex system of corruption that existed in the laws 762 00:38:54,473 --> 00:38:59,473 and which actually had their Kafkaesque order, 763 00:38:59,480 --> 00:39:03,358 made it impossible to exercise one's religious rights. 764 00:39:04,830 --> 00:39:07,139 The desecration and destruction of churches, 765 00:39:07,140 --> 00:39:08,849 ruthless retributions, 766 00:39:08,850 --> 00:39:10,979 and harsh living conditions of Christians 767 00:39:10,980 --> 00:39:13,379 also caused the migration of this group 768 00:39:13,380 --> 00:39:16,439 into neighbouring empires such as Austria-Hungary, 769 00:39:16,440 --> 00:39:18,269 which, by the end of the 19th century, 770 00:39:18,270 --> 00:39:21,563 significantly changed the ethnic composition of this area. 771 00:39:23,910 --> 00:39:25,499 One of the most acclaimed writers 772 00:39:25,500 --> 00:39:28,139 from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Mesa Selimovic 773 00:39:28,140 --> 00:39:30,449 was very aware of this change. 774 00:39:30,450 --> 00:39:34,739 He was born into a Bosnian Muslim family in Tuzla in 1910, 775 00:39:34,740 --> 00:39:37,409 but discovered that his ancestors, who were Serb, 776 00:39:37,410 --> 00:39:40,739 converted to Islam to protect their Christian brethren. 777 00:39:40,740 --> 00:39:43,799 According to a census at the end of the 15th century, 778 00:39:43,800 --> 00:39:48,800 over 99% of Christian families and less than 1% of Muslims 779 00:39:48,990 --> 00:39:52,109 lived in the administrative unit of the Bosnian Sanjak. 780 00:39:52,110 --> 00:39:55,889 While in the 19th century, the Muslim population represented 781 00:39:55,890 --> 00:39:58,379 38% of Bosnia and Herzegovina. 782 00:39:58,380 --> 00:40:01,769 Selimovic said, "To be a Serb is glorious, 783 00:40:01,770 --> 00:40:03,569 but also expensive." 784 00:40:03,570 --> 00:40:05,879 And the cost of this violent change of identity 785 00:40:05,880 --> 00:40:07,259 was a collective trauma 786 00:40:07,260 --> 00:40:10,609 best described by Serbian Nobel Prize winner Ivo Andric 787 00:40:10,610 --> 00:40:13,289 in his literary work "The Bridge on the Drina". 788 00:40:13,290 --> 00:40:14,729 Despite being written centuries 789 00:40:14,730 --> 00:40:16,289 after the events it portrays, 790 00:40:16,290 --> 00:40:18,239 it vividly and, in great detail, 791 00:40:18,240 --> 00:40:21,419 describes the Ottoman custom called the blood tax, 792 00:40:21,420 --> 00:40:24,779 the forceful abduction of male children from their families 793 00:40:24,780 --> 00:40:26,459 for conversion to Islam. 794 00:40:26,460 --> 00:40:29,069 The children were taken across this very bridge 795 00:40:29,070 --> 00:40:31,143 in the town of Visegrad to Istanbul. 796 00:40:32,430 --> 00:40:34,323 In his work, Andric writes, 797 00:40:36,157 --> 00:40:38,369 "It was already the sixth year 798 00:40:38,370 --> 00:40:41,669 since the last collection of this tribute of blood, 799 00:40:41,670 --> 00:40:46,079 and so this time the choice had been easy and rich. 800 00:40:46,080 --> 00:40:49,199 The necessary number of healthy, bright, 801 00:40:49,200 --> 00:40:53,249 and good-looking lads between 10 and 15 years old 802 00:40:53,250 --> 00:40:55,409 had been found without difficulty, 803 00:40:55,410 --> 00:40:57,829 even though many parents had hidden their children 804 00:40:57,830 --> 00:41:01,649 in the forests, taught them how to appear half-witted, 805 00:41:01,650 --> 00:41:04,439 clothed them in rags and let them get filthy 806 00:41:04,440 --> 00:41:07,109 to avoid the aga's choice. 807 00:41:07,110 --> 00:41:10,409 Some went so far as to maim their own children, 808 00:41:10,410 --> 00:41:13,053 cutting off one of their fingers with an axe. 809 00:41:13,920 --> 00:41:17,669 The chosen children were laden onto little Bosnian horses 810 00:41:17,670 --> 00:41:18,927 in a long convoy." 811 00:41:20,340 --> 00:41:22,803 Those convoys passed through here. 812 00:41:24,450 --> 00:41:26,009 I can't even begin to imagine 813 00:41:26,010 --> 00:41:28,960 how frightened those young kidnapped boys were 814 00:41:29,970 --> 00:41:32,270 and how the children's mothers must have felt. 815 00:41:34,657 --> 00:41:38,609 "A little way behind the last horses in that strange convoy, 816 00:41:38,610 --> 00:41:41,609 straggled, dishevelled and exhausted, 817 00:41:41,610 --> 00:41:44,189 many parents and relatives of those children 818 00:41:44,190 --> 00:41:47,609 who were being carried away forever to a foreign world 819 00:41:47,610 --> 00:41:50,699 where they would be circumcised, become Turkish, 820 00:41:50,700 --> 00:41:54,119 and forgetting their faith, their country, 821 00:41:54,120 --> 00:41:56,909 and their origin would pass their lives 822 00:41:56,910 --> 00:41:59,069 in the ranks of the janissaries 823 00:41:59,070 --> 00:42:02,669 or in some other, higher, service of the empire. 824 00:42:02,670 --> 00:42:07,529 They were, for the most part, women, mothers, grandmothers 825 00:42:07,530 --> 00:42:10,259 and sisters of the stolen children. 826 00:42:10,260 --> 00:42:11,699 When they came too close, 827 00:42:11,700 --> 00:42:14,669 the aga's horseman would drive them away with whips, 828 00:42:14,670 --> 00:42:17,577 urging their horses at them with loud cries to Allah." 829 00:42:22,950 --> 00:42:25,919 After being outvoted by Muslim and Croat MPs 830 00:42:25,920 --> 00:42:30,920 on October 15th, 1991, Serb MPs gathered nine days later 831 00:42:31,200 --> 00:42:34,049 and constituted the assembly of the Serbian people 832 00:42:34,050 --> 00:42:38,189 in Bosnia and Herzegovina with its seat in Sarajevo. 833 00:42:38,190 --> 00:42:39,120 At its first session, 834 00:42:39,121 --> 00:42:41,219 a plebiscite was called for November 10, 835 00:42:41,220 --> 00:42:43,049 which had the aim of defining the will 836 00:42:43,050 --> 00:42:45,359 of the Serbs in Bosnia and Herzegovina 837 00:42:45,360 --> 00:42:47,789 and asking them if they were in favour of remaining 838 00:42:47,790 --> 00:42:50,279 in the Yugoslav community or not. 839 00:42:50,280 --> 00:42:54,573 More than 1,350,000 Serbs took part in it, 840 00:42:55,500 --> 00:42:58,653 and 96% voted to stay in Yugoslavia. 841 00:42:59,610 --> 00:43:02,309 This was indeed a desperate attempt 842 00:43:02,310 --> 00:43:06,149 by the Serb political elite to maintain political visibility 843 00:43:06,150 --> 00:43:09,269 and try to prevent a new demographic decline 844 00:43:09,270 --> 00:43:12,149 due to a potential loss of political rights. 845 00:43:12,150 --> 00:43:14,039 The Assembly of Bosnia and Herzegovina, 846 00:43:14,040 --> 00:43:16,229 which operated without Serb representatives 847 00:43:16,230 --> 00:43:18,779 after October 15th, 1991, 848 00:43:18,780 --> 00:43:23,219 scheduled its own referendum for February 29th, 1992, 849 00:43:23,220 --> 00:43:25,829 in which its citizens would be asked if they were in favour 850 00:43:25,830 --> 00:43:28,439 of an independent Bosnia and Herzegovina. 851 00:43:28,440 --> 00:43:30,359 Serbs boycotted the referendum, 852 00:43:30,360 --> 00:43:32,999 aware that their participation would give legitimacy 853 00:43:33,000 --> 00:43:36,989 to a system of outvoting rather than reaching a consensus. 854 00:43:36,990 --> 00:43:39,719 The referendum was held on February 29th 855 00:43:39,720 --> 00:43:42,329 and March 1st, 1992. 856 00:43:42,330 --> 00:43:45,929 Sure enough, over 99% of those who voted, 857 00:43:45,930 --> 00:43:48,119 voted to leave Yugoslavia. 858 00:43:48,120 --> 00:43:50,519 Serbs meanwhile organised themselves politically 859 00:43:50,520 --> 00:43:53,759 in municipalities where they had a significant majority, 860 00:43:53,760 --> 00:43:56,039 wanting to articulate their political interests 861 00:43:56,040 --> 00:43:58,709 expressed in the 1991 plebiscite. 862 00:43:58,710 --> 00:44:01,649 The Muslims and Croats thus had a political platform, 863 00:44:01,650 --> 00:44:04,379 but the Serbs posed an "obstacle" of sorts. 864 00:44:04,380 --> 00:44:07,169 The Serbs possessed significant properties, influence, 865 00:44:07,170 --> 00:44:10,019 and positions throughout Bosnia and Herzegovina, 866 00:44:10,020 --> 00:44:11,279 and they were interwoven 867 00:44:11,280 --> 00:44:13,259 with the Muslim and Croat communities 868 00:44:13,260 --> 00:44:16,019 to the extent that no de facto unitary government 869 00:44:16,020 --> 00:44:17,669 could be established. 870 00:44:17,670 --> 00:44:21,239 That obstacle could only be removed through war, 871 00:44:21,240 --> 00:44:24,839 and the pretext came faster than anyone expected. 872 00:44:24,840 --> 00:44:28,199 One shot articulated all the political violence 873 00:44:28,200 --> 00:44:30,239 that the Muslim and Croatian side 874 00:44:30,240 --> 00:44:32,279 had been committing for a year. 875 00:44:32,280 --> 00:44:34,769 On March 1st, 1992, 876 00:44:34,770 --> 00:44:37,649 as the voting on the referendum was still ongoing, 877 00:44:37,650 --> 00:44:39,389 but Ramiz Delalic Celo, 878 00:44:39,390 --> 00:44:41,879 who was previously convicted for violence, 879 00:44:41,880 --> 00:44:44,759 fired shots at a Serb wedding in Sarajevo. 880 00:44:44,760 --> 00:44:47,549 He killed the father of the groom, Nikola Gardovic 881 00:44:47,550 --> 00:44:49,109 as the wedding guests were departing 882 00:44:49,110 --> 00:44:52,319 to the old Orthodox Church for the wedding ceremony. 883 00:44:52,320 --> 00:44:55,471 The reason was, as the executor said himself... 884 00:44:55,472 --> 00:45:00,472 They took out their Serbian flags and started waving them. 885 00:45:00,780 --> 00:45:03,179 The same Serbian flag that was banned 886 00:45:03,180 --> 00:45:07,199 by the Austro-Hungarian government less than a century ago. 887 00:45:07,200 --> 00:45:09,119 Nikola Gardovic was killed only 888 00:45:09,120 --> 00:45:11,729 because he was open about being a Serb. 889 00:45:11,730 --> 00:45:14,669 As no one was convicted or even arrested for the crime, 890 00:45:14,670 --> 00:45:17,372 the killing of Serbs was essentially legalised. 891 00:45:18,570 --> 00:45:21,049 This crime is considered the beginning of the war 892 00:45:21,050 --> 00:45:22,859 in Bosnia and Herzegovina. 893 00:45:22,860 --> 00:45:24,959 The Muslim side denies this. 894 00:45:24,960 --> 00:45:28,379 But the fact remains that the executor, Ramiz Delalic, 895 00:45:28,380 --> 00:45:31,139 as a member of the Muslim's military forces, 896 00:45:31,140 --> 00:45:34,589 was decorated by Alija Izetbegovic in person 897 00:45:34,590 --> 00:45:36,779 in the war that engulfed the country. 898 00:45:36,780 --> 00:45:38,639 The killing was a long-awaited excuse 899 00:45:38,640 --> 00:45:41,879 to implement the ideology of "The Islamic Declaration" 900 00:45:41,880 --> 00:45:44,459 as demonstrated in the days, months, 901 00:45:44,460 --> 00:45:46,031 and years after the murder. 902 00:45:53,160 --> 00:45:55,649 The division into small and big nations 903 00:45:55,650 --> 00:45:56,820 cannot be merely determined 904 00:45:56,821 --> 00:45:59,669 by counting how many people are a part of a nation, 905 00:45:59,670 --> 00:46:01,649 but rather according to the contribution 906 00:46:01,650 --> 00:46:04,139 a nation makes to civilization. 907 00:46:04,140 --> 00:46:06,119 And when it comes to the Serbian nation, 908 00:46:06,120 --> 00:46:10,529 they often gave the most valuable thing they could, life. 909 00:46:10,530 --> 00:46:12,089 At the end of the 19th century, 910 00:46:12,090 --> 00:46:14,759 the Serbs of this area initiated uprisings 911 00:46:14,760 --> 00:46:18,449 and wars against the Ottoman occupiers in the Balkans. 912 00:46:18,450 --> 00:46:21,539 From this spot, not far from the town of Nevesinje, 913 00:46:21,540 --> 00:46:23,339 the Serbs rebelled in their desire 914 00:46:23,340 --> 00:46:26,519 to rid themselves of the now renegade Ottoman authorities 915 00:46:26,520 --> 00:46:29,099 and they freed themselves from the occupier. 916 00:46:29,100 --> 00:46:31,900 But this occupier was instantly replaced by another one. 917 00:46:33,240 --> 00:46:35,549 At the moment, when the Austro-Hungarian occupier 918 00:46:35,550 --> 00:46:38,489 was taking control over Bosnia and Herzegovina, 919 00:46:38,490 --> 00:46:41,669 Serbs made up 43% of the population there 920 00:46:41,670 --> 00:46:44,639 and with a single largest ethnic group. 921 00:46:44,640 --> 00:46:47,489 This didn't suit the new Austro-Hungarian occupier, 922 00:46:47,490 --> 00:46:49,559 so the ethnic composition was to be adjusted 923 00:46:49,560 --> 00:46:51,119 in a two-step process: 924 00:46:51,120 --> 00:46:53,369 one, changing the national structure; 925 00:46:53,370 --> 00:46:56,223 and two, controlling inter-ethnic relations. 926 00:46:57,210 --> 00:46:59,939 Already in the first years of Austro-Hungarian rule, 927 00:46:59,940 --> 00:47:02,369 migrants were brought in, mostly from Bavaria, 928 00:47:02,370 --> 00:47:04,679 but from other parts of the empire as well. 929 00:47:04,680 --> 00:47:07,832 The first migrant colony near Banja Luka was Windhorst. 930 00:47:07,833 --> 00:47:09,929 They were nicknamed Kuferasi, 931 00:47:09,930 --> 00:47:11,699 loosely translated to foreigners 932 00:47:11,700 --> 00:47:13,589 who only brought a suitcase with them. 933 00:47:13,590 --> 00:47:15,539 The exact number of the Kuferasi 934 00:47:15,540 --> 00:47:17,489 was never precisely determined, 935 00:47:17,490 --> 00:47:21,059 but estimates go as high as 200,000 migrating 936 00:47:21,060 --> 00:47:22,499 in two decades. 937 00:47:22,500 --> 00:47:24,569 Their main role was to take over jobs 938 00:47:24,570 --> 00:47:26,069 in the developing industry. 939 00:47:26,070 --> 00:47:29,849 Up to 60% of civil service jobs were reserved 940 00:47:29,850 --> 00:47:31,409 for the Kuferasi. 941 00:47:31,410 --> 00:47:33,389 In addition to migrating peoples to colonies 942 00:47:33,390 --> 00:47:34,949 such as Franzjosefsfeld, 943 00:47:34,950 --> 00:47:37,679 not far from the city of Bijeljina, where I'm standing, 944 00:47:37,680 --> 00:47:39,329 the Austro-Hungarians manipulated 945 00:47:39,330 --> 00:47:42,330 the existing ethnic relations in an attempt to control them. 946 00:47:43,290 --> 00:47:45,809 Beni Kallay was an Austro-Hungarian statesman, 947 00:47:45,810 --> 00:47:47,999 who, as administrator of the condominium 948 00:47:48,000 --> 00:47:50,669 of Bosnia and Herzegovina, believed he could strengthen 949 00:47:50,670 --> 00:47:52,529 Austria-Hungary's authority there 950 00:47:52,530 --> 00:47:54,719 by weakening national movements. 951 00:47:54,720 --> 00:47:57,659 He first tried to create a unified Bosnian nation 952 00:47:57,660 --> 00:48:00,504 using the word Bosnjak or Bosniak 953 00:48:00,505 --> 00:48:02,945 to describe all the inhabitants of Bosnia. 954 00:48:02,946 --> 00:48:05,579 Significant funds were invested in this project, 955 00:48:05,580 --> 00:48:08,579 even a newspaper called Bosnjak was printed, 956 00:48:08,580 --> 00:48:10,769 but this idea was rejected by Muslims 957 00:48:10,770 --> 00:48:13,229 as well as Serbs and Croats. 958 00:48:13,230 --> 00:48:15,809 As this project failed, another one was launched 959 00:48:15,810 --> 00:48:18,543 to turn Bosnian Muslims into a separate nation. 960 00:48:19,530 --> 00:48:21,449 The works of literature that were devised 961 00:48:21,450 --> 00:48:22,949 as a part of that project 962 00:48:22,950 --> 00:48:25,019 talked about Serbian Cyrillic writings 963 00:48:25,020 --> 00:48:27,896 as a special alphabet called Bosancica. 964 00:48:27,897 --> 00:48:30,029 The Bogomils suddenly became a part 965 00:48:30,030 --> 00:48:32,489 of the so-called Bosnian Church, 966 00:48:32,490 --> 00:48:34,529 while the medievals that took tombstones 967 00:48:34,530 --> 00:48:37,863 were classified as supposed remnants of that church. 968 00:48:38,970 --> 00:48:41,729 Travnik is the birthplace of Ivo Andric. 969 00:48:41,730 --> 00:48:45,119 In his novel "Chronicle of Travnik" or "Bosnian Chronicle", 970 00:48:45,120 --> 00:48:47,459 he describes the impact on national relations 971 00:48:47,460 --> 00:48:50,219 when the government, when it comes to existential issues, 972 00:48:50,220 --> 00:48:53,699 favours one national group in relation to the others. 973 00:48:53,700 --> 00:48:56,473 Andric presents the French and Austrian consuls 974 00:48:56,474 --> 00:48:58,559 who were sent Travnik as the embodiment 975 00:48:58,560 --> 00:49:01,769 of the great European powers influence on this area. 976 00:49:01,770 --> 00:49:03,839 According to the origin of the consul, 977 00:49:03,840 --> 00:49:05,789 a certain nation rejoices, 978 00:49:05,790 --> 00:49:08,279 convinced that it's political, ideological, 979 00:49:08,280 --> 00:49:10,379 or religious resemblance to the consul 980 00:49:10,380 --> 00:49:13,773 will give it an existential advantage over other nations. 981 00:49:14,610 --> 00:49:16,289 Andric's message that consuls 982 00:49:16,290 --> 00:49:18,509 and everything they represent come and go, 983 00:49:18,510 --> 00:49:20,909 but neighbours stay was never clear enough 984 00:49:20,910 --> 00:49:22,360 to the people from this area. 985 00:49:23,430 --> 00:49:26,399 The hatred that the Austro-Hungarian government created, 986 00:49:26,400 --> 00:49:28,589 using the same social mechanisms 987 00:49:28,590 --> 00:49:31,259 that Andric skillfully recognised in his novel, 988 00:49:31,260 --> 00:49:33,539 left a disastrous legacy. 989 00:49:33,540 --> 00:49:36,719 The modern European coloniser emphasised in every way 990 00:49:36,720 --> 00:49:41,219 the sublime culture brings to a dark post-Ottoman realm. 991 00:49:41,220 --> 00:49:43,709 However, the incitement of hatred came equally 992 00:49:43,710 --> 00:49:45,029 from the Ottoman canopies 993 00:49:45,030 --> 00:49:46,833 as it did from the European courts. 994 00:49:47,850 --> 00:49:49,919 The people of Bosnia and Herzegovina 995 00:49:49,920 --> 00:49:52,979 couldn't fully grasp how the Austro-Hungarian conquerors 996 00:49:52,980 --> 00:49:57,689 saw them in 1878, but the press testifies to that. 997 00:49:57,690 --> 00:50:02,690 They were seen as savages, animals, linking them to pigs. 998 00:50:03,180 --> 00:50:08,180 A Muslim, Serb, and Croat squashed like bugs. 999 00:50:08,640 --> 00:50:11,699 Absurdity is best answered with absurdity, 1000 00:50:11,700 --> 00:50:13,559 and that answer was best articulated 1001 00:50:13,560 --> 00:50:14,909 by somebody who was educated 1002 00:50:14,910 --> 00:50:18,069 in the capital of Austria, Petar Kocic. 1003 00:50:18,070 --> 00:50:21,269 Petar Kocic was a Serbian poet, writer, 1004 00:50:21,270 --> 00:50:24,239 and politician at the turn of the 20th century. 1005 00:50:24,240 --> 00:50:26,519 After returning home from his studies in Vienna, 1006 00:50:26,520 --> 00:50:29,219 he began his political struggle in Sarajevo 1007 00:50:29,220 --> 00:50:32,549 to improve the conditions of serfs, as the lowest class, 1008 00:50:32,550 --> 00:50:35,339 and the general living condition of Serbs. 1009 00:50:35,340 --> 00:50:38,489 For this, he was sentenced to prison and persecuted. 1010 00:50:38,490 --> 00:50:40,326 And in his most successful short story 1011 00:50:40,327 --> 00:50:41,579 "The Badger on Trial", 1012 00:50:41,580 --> 00:50:44,099 he described the Austro-Hungarian judiciary, 1013 00:50:44,100 --> 00:50:47,669 which, according to him, has a law for everyone, 1014 00:50:47,670 --> 00:50:49,356 even a badger. 1015 00:50:49,357 --> 00:50:51,959 "The Badger on Trial" talks about the attitude 1016 00:50:51,960 --> 00:50:54,599 of the Austro-Hungarian government towards Serbs. 1017 00:50:54,600 --> 00:50:56,069 Based on a true story, 1018 00:50:56,070 --> 00:50:58,559 the main character is the unassuming David, 1019 00:50:58,560 --> 00:51:00,929 a Serb farmer who wants to sue a badger 1020 00:51:00,930 --> 00:51:02,283 for damaging his crops. 1021 00:51:03,420 --> 00:51:04,620 Standing before the judges, 1022 00:51:04,621 --> 00:51:06,209 David talks about his hardships 1023 00:51:06,210 --> 00:51:08,459 under the occupation through satire. 1024 00:51:08,460 --> 00:51:10,469 He says that now that he's deprived of everything, 1025 00:51:10,470 --> 00:51:13,979 he's finally free and happy, although hungry. 1026 00:51:13,980 --> 00:51:15,479 The judges accept everything, 1027 00:51:15,480 --> 00:51:18,633 satisfied that David isn't blaming the state for his demise. 1028 00:51:19,830 --> 00:51:20,700 The literary work 1029 00:51:20,701 --> 00:51:23,429 subjects the Austrian authorities to ridicule, 1030 00:51:23,430 --> 00:51:25,293 but defiantly attacks them as well. 1031 00:51:26,670 --> 00:51:28,439 For many, the assassination in Sarajevo 1032 00:51:28,440 --> 00:51:29,550 served to finally turn 1033 00:51:29,551 --> 00:51:32,129 their anti-Serbian thoughts into action. 1034 00:51:32,130 --> 00:51:33,929 Immediately following the assassination, 1035 00:51:33,930 --> 00:51:36,329 demonstrators demolished the Hotel Evropa 1036 00:51:36,330 --> 00:51:38,879 simply because it was owned by a Serb. 1037 00:51:38,880 --> 00:51:41,429 Numerous Serb houses were obliterated. 1038 00:51:41,430 --> 00:51:43,589 The offices of the "Serbian Word" newspaper 1039 00:51:43,590 --> 00:51:46,739 and many other Serbian-owned businesses were attacked. 1040 00:51:46,740 --> 00:51:49,169 The crowd chanted "Down with the Serbs" 1041 00:51:49,170 --> 00:51:52,559 and the abolition of Serbian schools was demanded. 1042 00:51:52,560 --> 00:51:55,139 The true face of the Austro-Hungarian occupier 1043 00:51:55,140 --> 00:51:58,319 was not only reflected in the destruction of property, 1044 00:51:58,320 --> 00:52:01,419 but also in the prohibition of everything Serbian, 1045 00:52:01,420 --> 00:52:04,589 their flag, Cyrillic script, 1046 00:52:04,590 --> 00:52:07,379 and the celebration of their patron saint. 1047 00:52:07,380 --> 00:52:09,509 The first Allied victory of World War I 1048 00:52:09,510 --> 00:52:12,149 was won by the Kingdom of Serbia's Army. 1049 00:52:12,150 --> 00:52:14,369 Sadly, however, this initial success 1050 00:52:14,370 --> 00:52:16,919 in no way foreshadowed the immense sacrifice 1051 00:52:16,920 --> 00:52:19,129 the war would demand of the Serbs. 1052 00:52:29,430 --> 00:52:32,999 Austria-Hungary eventually managed to occupy Serbia, 1053 00:52:33,000 --> 00:52:35,549 and Serbia's entire army and government 1054 00:52:35,550 --> 00:52:37,439 retreated to the Mediterranean. 1055 00:52:37,440 --> 00:52:40,409 With this, the Serbs in Bosnia and Herzegovina 1056 00:52:40,410 --> 00:52:42,749 lost the support they had in Serbia, 1057 00:52:42,750 --> 00:52:45,059 and the occupier had no more obstacles 1058 00:52:45,060 --> 00:52:47,909 in dealing with them in a cruel way. 1059 00:52:47,910 --> 00:52:49,229 What the oriental conqueror 1060 00:52:49,230 --> 00:52:52,349 didn't even think about doing to Serbs for four centuries 1061 00:52:52,350 --> 00:52:55,049 was done by the "enlightened conqueror" from the west. 1062 00:52:55,050 --> 00:52:58,289 Concentration camps for Serbs, like the one in Doboj, 1063 00:52:58,290 --> 00:53:00,046 were a hint of what awaited all of Europe 1064 00:53:00,047 --> 00:53:02,039 only a few decades later. 1065 00:53:02,040 --> 00:53:03,839 It has not been fully determined 1066 00:53:03,840 --> 00:53:07,229 how many Serbs died in the Doboj concentration camp. 1067 00:53:07,230 --> 00:53:10,469 But it's estimated that in 1916 alone, 1068 00:53:10,470 --> 00:53:15,470 over 600 children under the age of 10 died in that camp. 1069 00:53:15,510 --> 00:53:19,679 And in 1917, 1,000 children died. 1070 00:53:19,680 --> 00:53:20,909 In addition to the camp, 1071 00:53:20,910 --> 00:53:23,969 an auxiliary volunteer militia group was established 1072 00:53:23,970 --> 00:53:27,749 known as the Schutzkorps, composed of Croats and Muslims 1073 00:53:27,750 --> 00:53:30,689 who hunted down Serbs, mostly civilians, 1074 00:53:30,690 --> 00:53:33,479 and committed robberies and crimes against them. 1075 00:53:33,480 --> 00:53:36,569 The Turkish sultan, as a religious authority, 1076 00:53:36,570 --> 00:53:38,886 also encouraged hatred by calling Serbs 1077 00:53:38,887 --> 00:53:41,223 "enemies of Islam" in a fatwa. 1078 00:53:42,780 --> 00:53:44,249 The cemetery of Serbian soldiers 1079 00:53:44,250 --> 00:53:46,589 near Thessaloniki in Greece is called Zeitenlik, 1080 00:53:46,590 --> 00:53:48,899 after the olive trees that once grew here. 1081 00:53:48,900 --> 00:53:51,509 Cemeteries such as this all over the Mediterranean 1082 00:53:51,510 --> 00:53:55,469 testify to the profound sacrifice made by a small kingdom 1083 00:53:55,470 --> 00:53:57,993 in a fight against a 10 times larger empire. 1084 00:53:59,280 --> 00:54:03,149 In 1917 and 1918, the Kingdom of Serbia 1085 00:54:03,150 --> 00:54:04,889 made an enormous contribution 1086 00:54:04,890 --> 00:54:07,349 to Allied victory in World War I. 1087 00:54:07,350 --> 00:54:09,389 However, in this conflict, 1088 00:54:09,390 --> 00:54:13,795 3 out of every 10 citizens of Serbia lost their lives. 1089 00:54:39,030 --> 00:54:41,669 As the victorious power that militarily controlled 1090 00:54:41,670 --> 00:54:44,039 all of what we know today as Yugoslavia, 1091 00:54:44,040 --> 00:54:46,949 Serbia had the chance to create a Greater Serbia, 1092 00:54:46,950 --> 00:54:49,199 but its government decided not to do so, 1093 00:54:49,200 --> 00:54:51,933 opting instead to unite with its neighbouring nations. 1094 00:54:53,190 --> 00:54:55,679 The Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes 1095 00:54:55,680 --> 00:54:57,929 was being created, which soon became 1096 00:54:57,930 --> 00:54:59,759 the Kingdom of Yugoslavia, 1097 00:54:59,760 --> 00:55:02,039 without any national characteristics, 1098 00:55:02,040 --> 00:55:04,953 both in terms of organisation and politics. 1099 00:55:10,620 --> 00:55:12,809 World War I brought four years of death 1100 00:55:12,810 --> 00:55:14,369 and destruction to Europe. 1101 00:55:14,370 --> 00:55:16,679 However, according to "The Good Soldier Svejk", 1102 00:55:16,680 --> 00:55:18,899 all that could easily have been avoided 1103 00:55:18,900 --> 00:55:21,119 if only Franz Ferdinand was fat 1104 00:55:21,120 --> 00:55:24,381 because then he would've died earlier of a heart attack. 1105 00:55:26,055 --> 00:55:29,039 Svejk, the good humoured, simple-minded soldier 1106 00:55:29,040 --> 00:55:30,869 who pretends to be enthusiastic 1107 00:55:30,870 --> 00:55:33,449 to serve Austria-Hungary in World War I, 1108 00:55:33,450 --> 00:55:36,269 is a character from a satirical dark comedy novel 1109 00:55:36,270 --> 00:55:39,989 by a Czech writer who, as a contemporary of World War I, 1110 00:55:39,990 --> 00:55:41,703 conveyed a message of peace. 1111 00:55:42,600 --> 00:55:43,949 This message was recognised 1112 00:55:43,950 --> 00:55:46,289 by the famous Serbian director, writer, 1113 00:55:46,290 --> 00:55:49,619 and intellectual born in Sarajevo, Emir Kusturica 1114 00:55:49,620 --> 00:55:51,869 during the construction of the Andricgrad project 1115 00:55:51,870 --> 00:55:53,789 in the city of Visegrad. 1116 00:55:53,790 --> 00:55:56,819 The purpose of the complex itself is to gather the memory 1117 00:55:56,820 --> 00:56:00,839 of all the Serbian cultural greats in one place, 1118 00:56:00,840 --> 00:56:02,069 and it is named after 1119 00:56:02,070 --> 00:56:05,117 the only Serbian Nobel laureate, Ivo Andric. 1120 00:56:07,460 --> 00:56:11,549 On January 9th, 1992, at the Sarajevo Holiday Inn, 1121 00:56:11,550 --> 00:56:13,289 the Republic of the Serb people 1122 00:56:13,290 --> 00:56:16,019 of Bosnia and Herzegovina was proclaimed. 1123 00:56:16,020 --> 00:56:18,059 The Serbs had this historical memory 1124 00:56:18,060 --> 00:56:20,309 that whenever they lost their political significance 1125 00:56:20,310 --> 00:56:23,853 and connection to Serbia, they were exposed to persecution. 1126 00:56:24,750 --> 00:56:27,029 Radovan Karadzic became the first president, 1127 00:56:27,030 --> 00:56:29,849 and Momcilo Krajisnik, the president of the assembly. 1128 00:56:29,850 --> 00:56:32,789 Apart from the constitution and political organisation, 1129 00:56:32,790 --> 00:56:35,009 Republika Srpska did not have an army 1130 00:56:35,010 --> 00:56:36,899 as the politicians were convinced 1131 00:56:36,900 --> 00:56:40,949 that the Yugoslav People's Army or JNA would preserve peace 1132 00:56:40,950 --> 00:56:42,449 and that a solution to the crisis 1133 00:56:42,450 --> 00:56:44,069 would be found politically. 1134 00:56:44,070 --> 00:56:47,039 However, events in May of 1992, 1135 00:56:47,040 --> 00:56:50,399 such as the attack on a column of retreating JNA soldiers 1136 00:56:50,400 --> 00:56:52,330 in Dobrovoljacka Street in Sarajevo 1137 00:56:53,400 --> 00:56:55,724 and in Tuzla just two weeks later 1138 00:56:58,410 --> 00:57:00,329 clearly showed why the Muslim side 1139 00:57:00,330 --> 00:57:05,159 organised their armed forces as early as May 1991, 1140 00:57:05,160 --> 00:57:07,919 to wage war with the Serbs. 1141 00:57:07,920 --> 00:57:10,556 As the JNA withdrew from Bosnia and Herzegovina, 1142 00:57:10,557 --> 00:57:12,929 the Serbs were left without protection 1143 00:57:12,930 --> 00:57:16,169 and that is why they formed the Army of Republika Srpska 1144 00:57:16,170 --> 00:57:18,599 in the spring of 1992. 1145 00:57:18,600 --> 00:57:21,089 The Serbs were fearful of a repeat of their experiences 1146 00:57:21,090 --> 00:57:23,639 of bearing the brunt of fascism and Nazism, 1147 00:57:23,640 --> 00:57:25,379 the prevailing political ideologies 1148 00:57:25,380 --> 00:57:27,869 of Germany and Italy in the 1930s. 1149 00:57:27,870 --> 00:57:28,860 Now these ideologies 1150 00:57:28,861 --> 00:57:31,559 supposedly promoted peace to the outside world, 1151 00:57:31,560 --> 00:57:33,659 but carried out terror at home. 1152 00:57:33,660 --> 00:57:35,369 With the rise of Adolf Hitler 1153 00:57:35,370 --> 00:57:37,829 and his Nazi party to power in Germany, 1154 00:57:37,830 --> 00:57:41,309 the ideology that Germans were a higher race of people 1155 00:57:41,310 --> 00:57:44,249 and their claim to the territories of other nations 1156 00:57:44,250 --> 00:57:47,639 opened the door to a new war in Europe. 1157 00:57:47,640 --> 00:57:49,079 The revolt of the Serbian people 1158 00:57:49,080 --> 00:57:51,329 against these morally distorted ideas 1159 00:57:51,330 --> 00:57:54,509 was perhaps best described by the words of Branko Copic, 1160 00:57:54,510 --> 00:57:56,556 a contemporary of World War II. 1161 00:57:56,557 --> 00:57:58,919 "I watched our singing youths fight and die 1162 00:57:58,920 --> 00:58:00,749 for the freedom of their homeland, 1163 00:58:00,750 --> 00:58:04,557 to save humanity from fascist darkness and slavery." 1164 00:58:06,004 --> 00:58:09,389 Branko Copic, born in what is today Republika Srpska, 1165 00:58:09,390 --> 00:58:12,539 was a writer, satirist, but also a participant 1166 00:58:12,540 --> 00:58:15,479 in the anti-fascist struggle of the partisans. 1167 00:58:15,480 --> 00:58:16,919 His participation in the war 1168 00:58:16,920 --> 00:58:19,649 significantly marked his literary work, 1169 00:58:19,650 --> 00:58:21,719 but his cheerful spirit will be remembered 1170 00:58:21,720 --> 00:58:24,299 through the works he wrote for children. 1171 00:58:24,300 --> 00:58:26,279 The deadly darkness of World War II 1172 00:58:26,280 --> 00:58:28,049 soon engulfed the Balkans, 1173 00:58:28,050 --> 00:58:29,789 bringing with it a chapter of his history 1174 00:58:29,790 --> 00:58:32,009 that's not so difficult to understand 1175 00:58:32,010 --> 00:58:34,079 as it is difficult to comprehend 1176 00:58:34,080 --> 00:58:37,177 how it could possibly have been written by human beings. 1177 00:58:43,057 --> 00:58:44,609 "Never again." 1178 00:58:44,610 --> 00:58:46,169 This was the cry heard from Serbs 1179 00:58:46,170 --> 00:58:49,679 in Bosnia and Herzegovina in early 1992. 1180 00:58:49,680 --> 00:58:52,679 Those two words spoke of an entire century 1181 00:58:52,680 --> 00:58:54,995 of tragic experiences. 1182 00:58:58,486 --> 00:58:59,319 Donja Gradina was part 1183 00:58:59,320 --> 00:59:02,609 of the Jasenovac concentration camp complex, 1184 00:59:02,610 --> 00:59:04,979 which testifies to the genocide committed 1185 00:59:04,980 --> 00:59:07,529 against civilians during World War II 1186 00:59:07,530 --> 00:59:09,989 in the former Kingdom of Yugoslavia. 1187 00:59:09,990 --> 00:59:13,799 With the invasion of Nazi Germany in April 1941, 1188 00:59:13,800 --> 00:59:18,089 Yugoslavia was conquered and divided into occupation zones. 1189 00:59:18,090 --> 00:59:20,849 The so-called Independent State of Croatia, 1190 00:59:20,850 --> 00:59:23,999 a Nazi puppet state was formed on the territories 1191 00:59:24,000 --> 00:59:26,489 roughly corresponding to today's Croatia, 1192 00:59:26,490 --> 00:59:28,799 combined with Bosnia and Herzegovina, 1193 00:59:28,800 --> 00:59:31,469 and parts of Serbia and Slovenia. 1194 00:59:31,470 --> 00:59:35,339 Its leader and political creator was Ante Pavelic, 1195 00:59:35,340 --> 00:59:38,429 whose ideology was in line with Nazi Germany's 1196 00:59:38,430 --> 00:59:42,059 regarding Jews, Roma, and Communists, 1197 00:59:42,060 --> 00:59:46,203 but was, in addition, extremely hostile towards Serbs. 1198 00:59:47,250 --> 00:59:49,709 The real face of the "enlightened colonisers" 1199 00:59:49,710 --> 00:59:52,859 who came to this area has never been easily visible, 1200 00:59:52,860 --> 00:59:55,079 but it has always been subtly implemented 1201 00:59:55,080 --> 00:59:57,779 in the most important aspects of life. 1202 00:59:57,780 --> 01:00:00,329 Austria-Hungary, in their construction of schools, 1203 01:00:00,330 --> 01:00:04,079 in what they saw as a backwards Bosnia and Herzegovina, 1204 01:00:04,080 --> 01:00:06,839 can boast of the product of their education system. 1205 01:00:06,840 --> 01:00:09,749 Ante Pavelic, the leader of the later formed 1206 01:00:09,750 --> 01:00:12,149 fascist Croatian Ustase movement 1207 01:00:12,150 --> 01:00:14,609 and the Independent State of Croatia. 1208 01:00:14,610 --> 01:00:17,129 Historians have a well-founded suspicion 1209 01:00:17,130 --> 01:00:18,899 that it was at the Travnik gymnasium 1210 01:00:18,900 --> 01:00:22,019 that Pavelic accepted the anti-Serbian teachings 1211 01:00:22,020 --> 01:00:25,889 of the Croatian nationalist ideologue Ante Starcevic. 1212 01:00:25,890 --> 01:00:28,319 The goal of physically reducing the number of Serbs, 1213 01:00:28,320 --> 01:00:30,599 thus extinguishing their political significance, 1214 01:00:30,600 --> 01:00:32,399 remained the same during World War II 1215 01:00:32,400 --> 01:00:35,309 as it was during the Austro-Hungarian occupation. 1216 01:00:35,310 --> 01:00:38,249 So the Ustase applied the same recipe that was used in Doboj 1217 01:00:38,250 --> 01:00:42,599 27 years earlier, forming concentration camps. 1218 01:00:42,600 --> 01:00:45,659 In addition to banning the national symbols of Serbs 1219 01:00:45,660 --> 01:00:47,009 identical to measures 1220 01:00:47,010 --> 01:00:49,619 during the Austro-Hungarian occupation, 1221 01:00:49,620 --> 01:00:52,949 the Jasenovac concentration camp complex was formed 1222 01:00:52,950 --> 01:00:56,669 in which the Ustase rounded up Serbs, Jews, 1223 01:00:56,670 --> 01:00:59,579 Roma, communists, and others. 1224 01:00:59,580 --> 01:01:04,268 Known for their cruelty, these camps even inturned children. 1225 01:01:11,490 --> 01:01:14,549 Although hundreds of thousands were killed, 1226 01:01:14,550 --> 01:01:17,853 the final number of victims has never been fully determined. 1227 01:01:22,470 --> 01:01:25,409 The question is, why did all the conquerors of the past 1228 01:01:25,410 --> 01:01:27,149 see Serbs as the enemy? 1229 01:01:27,150 --> 01:01:28,919 Well, because whenever Serbs were threatened 1230 01:01:28,920 --> 01:01:32,013 by an incomparably greater force, they mostly resisted. 1231 01:01:33,140 --> 01:01:35,548 The struggle for freedom is key. 1232 01:01:35,549 --> 01:01:38,324 It is essentially a cultural nature. 1233 01:01:38,325 --> 01:01:41,132 Ignorant loudmouths don't have a substitute for this. 1234 01:01:41,133 --> 01:01:43,923 They just say: "They are nationalists, 1235 01:01:43,924 --> 01:01:47,339 they are trying to defend something that is indefensible." 1236 01:01:47,340 --> 01:01:50,169 And what is their counterweight? 1237 01:01:50,170 --> 01:01:52,494 They want to take away everything we have, 1238 01:01:52,495 --> 01:01:53,911 not only our culture, 1239 01:01:53,912 --> 01:01:58,224 but also our women and cars and houses and apartments 1240 01:01:58,225 --> 01:02:01,349 so that they're the owners and we're the users. 1241 01:02:01,350 --> 01:02:02,786 Well, no way. 1242 01:02:02,787 --> 01:02:03,840 No way. 1243 01:02:03,841 --> 01:02:05,729 The first in Europe who said this 1244 01:02:05,730 --> 01:02:08,879 to the largest military power of the 20th century, 1245 01:02:08,880 --> 01:02:12,723 Nazi Germany, were the Serbs right here in Nevesinje. 1246 01:02:13,710 --> 01:02:16,169 When the Serbs saw the genocidal system 1247 01:02:16,170 --> 01:02:19,439 of concentration camps and the indiscriminate killings 1248 01:02:19,440 --> 01:02:20,939 that were taking place there, 1249 01:02:20,940 --> 01:02:23,969 they decided to rise up and take action. 1250 01:02:23,970 --> 01:02:27,029 An insurgency was quickly organised in this area 1251 01:02:27,030 --> 01:02:29,399 that had a history of rebellion. 1252 01:02:29,400 --> 01:02:32,999 As early as June 23rd and 24th, 1941, 1253 01:02:33,000 --> 01:02:35,279 the entire municipality of Nevesinje, 1254 01:02:35,280 --> 01:02:38,493 except for two major military strongholds, was liberated. 1255 01:02:39,720 --> 01:02:42,389 The first military victories of the Soviet Union, 1256 01:02:42,390 --> 01:02:45,059 the United States, and Great Britain over Germany 1257 01:02:45,060 --> 01:02:47,339 happened several years later. 1258 01:02:47,340 --> 01:02:49,289 For the Nazis and the Ustase, however, 1259 01:02:49,290 --> 01:02:51,809 one man was their biggest headache. 1260 01:02:51,810 --> 01:02:55,049 They described him as the most dangerous rebel leader 1261 01:02:55,050 --> 01:02:56,969 because he's the most intelligent, 1262 01:02:56,970 --> 01:02:59,939 leads the largest and strongest group of insurgents, 1263 01:02:59,940 --> 01:03:02,849 is very careful and carries out his attacks 1264 01:03:02,850 --> 01:03:05,099 with systematic precision. 1265 01:03:05,100 --> 01:03:10,100 He was Mladen Stojanovic, the legendary Dr. Mladen, 1266 01:03:10,470 --> 01:03:13,649 leader of the partisan insurgents in Kozara. 1267 01:03:13,650 --> 01:03:16,259 The life story of the son of a priest, 1268 01:03:16,260 --> 01:03:18,359 a member of the Young Bosnia movement, 1269 01:03:18,360 --> 01:03:22,889 a poet, tennis player, doctor, and national hero 1270 01:03:22,890 --> 01:03:24,989 is one of the most exciting in the turbulent 1271 01:03:24,990 --> 01:03:26,939 and tragic history here. 1272 01:03:26,940 --> 01:03:29,549 In his youth, he met with Gavrilo Princip 1273 01:03:29,550 --> 01:03:32,009 and other freedom fighters in this area. 1274 01:03:32,010 --> 01:03:34,229 He conspired against the occupiers, 1275 01:03:34,230 --> 01:03:37,589 was arrested by the Austro-Hungarian authorities, 1276 01:03:37,590 --> 01:03:40,289 treated hundreds of Krajina peasants for free, 1277 01:03:40,290 --> 01:03:44,129 and gave money for medicine and travel expenses to the poor. 1278 01:03:44,130 --> 01:03:45,839 At times, his life was reminiscent 1279 01:03:45,840 --> 01:03:48,629 of that of Cuban revolutionary Che Guevara. 1280 01:03:48,630 --> 01:03:50,669 But people around the world don't wear t-shirts 1281 01:03:50,670 --> 01:03:52,263 with the image of Dr. Mladen. 1282 01:03:53,220 --> 01:03:54,663 Although they really should. 1283 01:03:55,890 --> 01:03:58,259 After the German attack on Yugoslavia, 1284 01:03:58,260 --> 01:04:00,239 Dr. Mladen was arrested, 1285 01:04:00,240 --> 01:04:03,809 but he managed to escape from prison and flee to Kozara, 1286 01:04:03,810 --> 01:04:05,129 where he became the commander 1287 01:04:05,130 --> 01:04:07,319 of the Kozara Partisan Detachment. 1288 01:04:07,320 --> 01:04:10,139 Dr. Mladen's group engaged in heroic combat 1289 01:04:10,140 --> 01:04:12,839 against the occupiers and the Ustase. 1290 01:04:12,840 --> 01:04:15,179 Several offensives were launched against him, 1291 01:04:15,180 --> 01:04:16,503 none were successful. 1292 01:04:17,700 --> 01:04:20,849 The legendary Dr. Mladen managed to stay on Kozara 1293 01:04:20,850 --> 01:04:24,209 and continued carrying out military operations. 1294 01:04:24,210 --> 01:04:27,479 Because of his wise and uncompromising fight for freedom, 1295 01:04:27,480 --> 01:04:29,459 he became the most popular figure 1296 01:04:29,460 --> 01:04:31,323 amongst people living in this region. 1297 01:04:32,490 --> 01:04:35,279 While trying to unite as many people as possible 1298 01:04:35,280 --> 01:04:39,479 for the struggle, he was ambushed and shot in the forehead. 1299 01:04:39,480 --> 01:04:42,389 Incredibly, he survived the severe injury 1300 01:04:42,390 --> 01:04:45,059 and began to recover successfully. 1301 01:04:45,060 --> 01:04:47,849 But there was another betrayal from within his ranks, 1302 01:04:47,850 --> 01:04:50,249 and Dr. Mladen was killed. 1303 01:04:50,250 --> 01:04:52,499 It was a tremendous blow to the Serbs 1304 01:04:52,500 --> 01:04:56,579 who made up 90% of the partisan forces in this area. 1305 01:04:56,580 --> 01:04:57,780 Only a few months later, 1306 01:04:57,781 --> 01:05:00,809 Nazi Germany and the Ustase launched an offensive 1307 01:05:00,810 --> 01:05:02,999 against the partisan movement. 1308 01:05:03,000 --> 01:05:07,139 The Battle of Kozara took over 30,000 civilian lives, 1309 01:05:07,140 --> 01:05:10,079 largely Serbs, most of whom were killed 1310 01:05:10,080 --> 01:05:12,710 at the Jasenovac concentration camp. 1311 01:05:16,800 --> 01:05:18,989 The Kozara Memorial Park is one of many 1312 01:05:18,990 --> 01:05:20,519 throughout Republika Srpska 1313 01:05:20,520 --> 01:05:23,219 that attests to the heroic struggle for freedom 1314 01:05:23,220 --> 01:05:25,769 of the largest resistance movement in Europe 1315 01:05:25,770 --> 01:05:27,635 during World War II. 1316 01:05:43,023 --> 01:05:45,809 In the 1990s, the interference of Western powers 1317 01:05:45,810 --> 01:05:49,349 in the Yugoslav conflict was supposed to be a guarantee, 1318 01:05:49,350 --> 01:05:51,899 that the horrors of World War II would not be repeated 1319 01:05:51,900 --> 01:05:54,719 and the disagreements would be resolved peacefully. 1320 01:05:54,720 --> 01:05:56,459 Instead, Western powers 1321 01:05:56,460 --> 01:05:59,519 clearly began taking sides in the conflict. 1322 01:05:59,520 --> 01:06:00,959 Germany heavily lobbied 1323 01:06:00,960 --> 01:06:03,539 the Council of Ministers of the European community 1324 01:06:03,540 --> 01:06:07,499 to recognise the independence of Croatia in 1991 1325 01:06:07,500 --> 01:06:10,709 despite the disenfranchisement of Serbs living there, 1326 01:06:10,710 --> 01:06:13,469 and the same lobbying continued for the recognition 1327 01:06:13,470 --> 01:06:17,519 of the independence of Bosnia and Herzegovina in 1992. 1328 01:06:17,520 --> 01:06:20,699 The appeals of the politically disenfranchised Serbs there 1329 01:06:20,700 --> 01:06:23,099 did not yield significant results. 1330 01:06:23,100 --> 01:06:26,009 Warnings of the return of Nazism in these areas, 1331 01:06:26,010 --> 01:06:29,459 as seen in Vox Magazine, didn't change the West's perception 1332 01:06:29,460 --> 01:06:32,579 of the tensions in Bosnia and Herzegovina. 1333 01:06:32,580 --> 01:06:35,249 The Austro-Hungarian occupation provided a template 1334 01:06:35,250 --> 01:06:37,859 for turning ethnic groups against each other, 1335 01:06:37,860 --> 01:06:39,929 and this is how it was done. 1336 01:06:39,930 --> 01:06:42,119 Muslims, Serbs, and Croats 1337 01:06:42,120 --> 01:06:44,789 lived together in peace for centuries, 1338 01:06:44,790 --> 01:06:47,549 their culture, language, history, 1339 01:06:47,550 --> 01:06:50,309 and personal lives often intertwined. 1340 01:06:50,310 --> 01:06:52,979 So, certain individuals from those groups 1341 01:06:52,980 --> 01:06:54,929 were chosen by the occupier 1342 01:06:54,930 --> 01:06:58,649 to sow hatred and exploit religious feelings. 1343 01:06:58,650 --> 01:07:02,069 In World War I, this was done by creating the Schutzkorps, 1344 01:07:02,070 --> 01:07:04,349 composed of members of two nations 1345 01:07:04,350 --> 01:07:08,039 who persecuted and killed members of the third nation. 1346 01:07:08,040 --> 01:07:10,859 In World War II, a Nazi SS unit 1347 01:07:10,860 --> 01:07:12,929 called the Handschar Division was formed, 1348 01:07:12,930 --> 01:07:15,479 made up of Muslims whose religious sentiments 1349 01:07:15,480 --> 01:07:17,759 were exploited by Nazi Germany 1350 01:07:17,760 --> 01:07:20,429 which in turn supported the Ustase movement 1351 01:07:20,430 --> 01:07:24,239 led by Ante Pavelic in its genocide of Serbs. 1352 01:07:24,240 --> 01:07:26,219 Thus, in the 1990s, 1353 01:07:26,220 --> 01:07:29,429 certain Western powers supported Alija Izetbegovic 1354 01:07:29,430 --> 01:07:33,239 despite him being convicted of religious fanaticism. 1355 01:07:33,240 --> 01:07:35,999 A speech by the Serb representative, Radovan Karadzic, 1356 01:07:36,000 --> 01:07:39,809 in Bosnia and Herzegovina's parliament in October 1991, 1357 01:07:39,810 --> 01:07:42,239 was relentlessly replayed on television channels 1358 01:07:42,240 --> 01:07:43,966 around the world. 1359 01:07:43,967 --> 01:07:47,558 The road you are choosing for Bosnia and Hercegovina 1360 01:07:47,559 --> 01:07:50,524 is the same highway of hell and suffering 1361 01:07:50,525 --> 01:07:52,965 Slovenia and Croatia have already taken. 1362 01:07:52,966 --> 01:07:55,373 Don't think that you won't take 1363 01:07:55,374 --> 01:07:57,207 Bosnia and Hercegovina to hell 1364 01:07:57,208 --> 01:07:59,265 and the Muslim people perhaps into extinction, 1365 01:07:59,266 --> 01:08:00,523 because if there is a war, 1366 01:08:00,524 --> 01:08:02,706 Muslims will not be able to defend themselves. 1367 01:08:03,547 --> 01:08:06,509 This was presented as a threat and out of context, 1368 01:08:06,510 --> 01:08:10,049 sure, it sounds like one, but was it a warning? 1369 01:08:10,050 --> 01:08:11,429 If the Serb politician's aim 1370 01:08:11,430 --> 01:08:15,029 was really to erase all Muslims from Bosnia and Herzegovina, 1371 01:08:15,030 --> 01:08:16,499 then it certainly made little sense 1372 01:08:16,500 --> 01:08:17,909 for him to invite Izetbegovic 1373 01:08:17,910 --> 01:08:20,879 to the founding of their political party in 1990 1374 01:08:20,880 --> 01:08:23,965 and even let him speak as an honoured guest. 1375 01:08:23,966 --> 01:08:25,981 We're not against our Muslims. 1376 01:08:25,982 --> 01:08:28,229 We're against them dominating us Serbs. 1377 01:08:28,230 --> 01:08:31,049 Why would Serbs push for violent change 1378 01:08:31,050 --> 01:08:34,379 when the status quo of Yugoslavia suited them best 1379 01:08:34,380 --> 01:08:37,979 as all Serbs lived in one unified state? 1380 01:08:37,980 --> 01:08:39,989 Nevertheless, Karadzic's statements 1381 01:08:39,990 --> 01:08:41,879 were used by many politicians 1382 01:08:41,880 --> 01:08:44,339 and media outlets around the world 1383 01:08:44,340 --> 01:08:47,399 as evidence that Serbs wanted war. 1384 01:08:47,400 --> 01:08:50,519 They ignored the fact that just months after 1385 01:08:50,520 --> 01:08:53,849 Karadzic signed the Carrington-Cutileiro Peace Plan, 1386 01:08:53,850 --> 01:08:55,589 known as the Lisbon Agreement, 1387 01:08:55,590 --> 01:08:59,069 the last peace deal before the war erupted. 1388 01:08:59,070 --> 01:09:02,129 The agreement was also signed by the leader of Croats 1389 01:09:02,130 --> 01:09:04,739 in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Mate Boban, 1390 01:09:04,740 --> 01:09:07,739 and the Muslim leader, Alija Izetbegovic. 1391 01:09:07,740 --> 01:09:11,219 But then the US Ambassador to Yugoslavia, Warren Zimmermann 1392 01:09:11,220 --> 01:09:13,919 convinced Izetbegovic to withdraw his signature 1393 01:09:13,920 --> 01:09:15,120 from the peace plan. 1394 01:09:15,810 --> 01:09:17,159 By withdrawing his signature, 1395 01:09:17,160 --> 01:09:19,889 Alija Izetbegovic, not through a speech, 1396 01:09:19,890 --> 01:09:21,749 but through his concrete actions, 1397 01:09:21,750 --> 01:09:23,849 opened the gates of conflict 1398 01:09:23,850 --> 01:09:27,599 with the blessing of the strongest global superpower. 1399 01:09:27,600 --> 01:09:29,459 The involvement of the United States 1400 01:09:29,460 --> 01:09:32,999 and Germany in the events that followed was undisputed. 1401 01:09:33,000 --> 01:09:35,009 In fact, the three national groups 1402 01:09:35,010 --> 01:09:36,899 agreed on a petition. 1403 01:09:36,900 --> 01:09:39,599 And the United States, under the previous administration, 1404 01:09:39,600 --> 01:09:42,479 opposed it because they were worried about the precedent 1405 01:09:42,480 --> 01:09:44,969 that might set for the then Soviet Union. 1406 01:09:44,970 --> 01:09:47,909 An international community fanning the flames of war 1407 01:09:47,910 --> 01:09:49,589 under the banner of peace 1408 01:09:49,590 --> 01:09:52,259 embodied in soldiers in white uniforms 1409 01:09:52,260 --> 01:09:56,073 was satirised by the Surrealists on Yugoslav television. 1410 01:09:56,074 --> 01:09:59,056 Why don't you organize yourselves? 1411 01:09:59,057 --> 01:10:01,984 To secede and all that stuff? 1412 01:10:01,985 --> 01:10:03,359 Yeah, we will. 1413 01:10:03,360 --> 01:10:06,209 The Western countries openly taking sides 1414 01:10:06,210 --> 01:10:07,799 was accompanied by a narrative 1415 01:10:07,800 --> 01:10:10,739 that labelled Serbs as the aggressors. 1416 01:10:10,740 --> 01:10:12,299 Shortly after the United States 1417 01:10:12,300 --> 01:10:14,039 and Western Europe recognised 1418 01:10:14,040 --> 01:10:16,709 the independence of Bosnia and Herzegovina, 1419 01:10:16,710 --> 01:10:19,099 Serb forces had invaded Bosnia. 1420 01:10:20,430 --> 01:10:22,199 All this, despite the fact 1421 01:10:22,200 --> 01:10:24,036 that Serbs have inhabited this area 1422 01:10:24,037 --> 01:10:26,429 since the early Middle Ages 1423 01:10:26,430 --> 01:10:28,619 and that they have been an inalienable factor 1424 01:10:28,620 --> 01:10:31,829 to all elements of life here ever since, 1425 01:10:31,830 --> 01:10:33,959 this narrative fit into the propaganda 1426 01:10:33,960 --> 01:10:37,859 that accompanied the start of all the wars in the Balkans. 1427 01:10:37,860 --> 01:10:39,689 Muslims in Bosnia and Herzegovina 1428 01:10:39,690 --> 01:10:42,869 always had a reputation across Yugoslavia as good hosts, 1429 01:10:42,870 --> 01:10:44,309 people who loved a good joke, 1430 01:10:44,310 --> 01:10:45,633 which they call sega. 1431 01:10:46,470 --> 01:10:48,419 To push them into a war mentality, 1432 01:10:48,420 --> 01:10:50,755 their religious feelings were exploited. 1433 01:10:50,756 --> 01:10:53,021 In the early 1990s before the war, 1434 01:10:53,022 --> 01:10:55,363 a man in the town of Visoko asked me: 1435 01:10:55,364 --> 01:10:59,121 "Professor, what are you? Are you one of us?" 1436 01:10:59,122 --> 01:11:01,712 I said: "Well, yes, I belong to everyone", 1437 01:11:01,713 --> 01:11:04,220 but he says: "And your wife, what is she?" 1438 01:11:04,221 --> 01:11:09,053 I responded: "She's Yugoslav, a mix, Serbo-Croatian. 1439 01:11:09,054 --> 01:11:12,986 Father Serb, mother Croat, came by train." 1440 01:11:12,987 --> 01:11:14,961 He then says: "Brother, 1441 01:11:14,962 --> 01:11:17,318 it matters not which religion we are, 1442 01:11:17,319 --> 01:11:19,393 so long as we're Muslim." 1443 01:11:20,910 --> 01:11:22,409 From the moment the conflict started 1444 01:11:22,410 --> 01:11:24,869 until the war ended in 1995, 1445 01:11:24,870 --> 01:11:28,589 images of Sarajevo as a city under siege by well-armed Serbs 1446 01:11:28,590 --> 01:11:30,239 circulated the world. 1447 01:11:30,240 --> 01:11:33,299 The circumstances were completely different. 1448 01:11:33,300 --> 01:11:35,819 During the conflict in Bosnia and Herzegovina, 1449 01:11:35,820 --> 01:11:37,679 Serbs wanted to defend the places 1450 01:11:37,680 --> 01:11:39,269 where they constituted a majority. 1451 01:11:39,270 --> 01:11:43,589 180,000 Serbs lived in Sarajevo, 1452 01:11:43,590 --> 01:11:46,709 so they formed military and police authorities 1453 01:11:46,710 --> 01:11:48,509 in the Sarajevo municipalities 1454 01:11:48,510 --> 01:11:51,059 where Serbs made up the majority. 1455 01:11:51,060 --> 01:11:52,709 The rest of the city's territory 1456 01:11:52,710 --> 01:11:55,049 was under the control of Muslim forces, 1457 01:11:55,050 --> 01:11:58,139 the Army of Bosnia and Herzegovina. 1458 01:11:58,140 --> 01:12:01,379 In none of the media reports from war-torn Sarajevo 1459 01:12:01,380 --> 01:12:04,649 could you read or hear these facts: 1460 01:12:04,650 --> 01:12:06,179 The number of Serbian troops 1461 01:12:06,180 --> 01:12:08,669 participating in the fighting around Sarajevo 1462 01:12:08,670 --> 01:12:11,219 never exceeded 13,000. 1463 01:12:11,220 --> 01:12:13,049 While the number of Muslim soldiers 1464 01:12:13,050 --> 01:12:15,059 was several times greater. 1465 01:12:15,060 --> 01:12:16,709 Throughout the entire war, 1466 01:12:16,710 --> 01:12:19,409 there was no concrete attempt by Serbs 1467 01:12:19,410 --> 01:12:21,509 to conquer the city itself. 1468 01:12:21,510 --> 01:12:24,059 Most of the higher positions around the city 1469 01:12:24,060 --> 01:12:26,099 were controlled by the Muslim army. 1470 01:12:26,100 --> 01:12:29,429 Grenades were thrown from Muslim-controlled territories 1471 01:12:29,430 --> 01:12:31,859 as well as Serb-controlled territories. 1472 01:12:31,860 --> 01:12:34,649 Both sides conducted military operations, 1473 01:12:34,650 --> 01:12:37,079 so it wasn't true that only civilians 1474 01:12:37,080 --> 01:12:39,419 resided in Sarajevo during the war. 1475 01:12:39,420 --> 01:12:40,769 But what made the civil war 1476 01:12:40,770 --> 01:12:43,979 in Bosnia and Herzegovina unjustifiably horrific 1477 01:12:43,980 --> 01:12:46,893 were the numerous war crimes committed by all sides. 1478 01:12:47,970 --> 01:12:51,779 Kravica is one of the many places where mostly Serbs lived. 1479 01:12:51,780 --> 01:12:54,989 The population in the general area west of Drina River 1480 01:12:54,990 --> 01:12:57,449 was a mix of Serbs and Muslims. 1481 01:12:57,450 --> 01:12:58,769 At the beginning of the war, 1482 01:12:58,770 --> 01:13:02,939 by invading the Serb majority towns of Kravica and Bratunac, 1483 01:13:02,940 --> 01:13:05,339 Muslim forces committed horrific crimes 1484 01:13:05,340 --> 01:13:07,730 in the poorly defended villages of this area. 1485 01:13:10,090 --> 01:13:14,131 ISLAM WILL WIN BECAUSE BOSNIA IS AN ISLAMIC STATE 1486 01:13:15,810 --> 01:13:17,609 Determined to stop this threat, 1487 01:13:17,610 --> 01:13:19,349 the Army of Republika Srpska 1488 01:13:19,350 --> 01:13:22,829 launched a military operation in 1993, 1489 01:13:22,830 --> 01:13:24,779 after which the area of Srebrenica 1490 01:13:24,780 --> 01:13:27,779 was placed under the protection of UN forces 1491 01:13:27,780 --> 01:13:31,109 as a safe area and demilitarised zone. 1492 01:13:31,110 --> 01:13:32,789 But it wasn't demilitarised 1493 01:13:32,790 --> 01:13:35,069 and the Muslim forces continued carrying out 1494 01:13:35,070 --> 01:13:36,569 their military operations, 1495 01:13:36,570 --> 01:13:38,219 leading the Army of Republika Srpska 1496 01:13:38,220 --> 01:13:41,613 to decide to take over control of the Srebrenica safe area. 1497 01:13:42,960 --> 01:13:45,089 The Army of Republika Srpska's entry 1498 01:13:45,090 --> 01:13:49,469 into Srebrenica in 1995 ignited chaos. 1499 01:13:49,470 --> 01:13:52,559 Though many civilians were evacuated from the city, 1500 01:13:52,560 --> 01:13:57,089 many others, including children, were killed by Serb forces. 1501 01:13:57,090 --> 01:13:58,439 Some Muslim soldiers, 1502 01:13:58,440 --> 01:14:00,689 who were attempting to break through to Tuzla, 1503 01:14:00,690 --> 01:14:02,703 were captured and executed. 1504 01:14:07,530 --> 01:14:10,859 There's no justification for such heinous crimes, 1505 01:14:10,860 --> 01:14:13,589 considered the largest single act of mass killing 1506 01:14:13,590 --> 01:14:16,379 in the Yugoslav wars and the worst in Europe 1507 01:14:16,380 --> 01:14:17,580 since World War II. 1508 01:14:25,680 --> 01:14:27,209 The International Criminal Tribunal 1509 01:14:27,210 --> 01:14:28,320 for the Former Yugoslavia 1510 01:14:28,321 --> 01:14:31,349 was established in 1993 in The Hague. 1511 01:14:31,350 --> 01:14:33,299 Now, The Hague Tribunal was supposed to bring 1512 01:14:33,300 --> 01:14:36,299 justice to the victims and reconciliation among the nations 1513 01:14:36,300 --> 01:14:38,279 following the end of the civil wars. 1514 01:14:38,280 --> 01:14:40,139 However, it would be eerily reminiscent 1515 01:14:40,140 --> 01:14:41,913 of earlier European courts. 1516 01:14:45,570 --> 01:14:47,219 Instead of reconciliation, 1517 01:14:47,220 --> 01:14:48,360 The Hague Tribunal 1518 01:14:48,361 --> 01:14:50,999 brought even deeper divisions to this area, 1519 01:14:51,000 --> 01:14:52,979 by choosing to disproportionately punish 1520 01:14:52,980 --> 01:14:54,989 one side in the conflict. 1521 01:14:54,990 --> 01:14:57,419 If all the verdicts were added together, 1522 01:14:57,420 --> 01:14:59,999 Croats, Bosniaks, and Albanians 1523 01:15:00,000 --> 01:15:03,779 were sentenced to a total of about 300 years in prison. 1524 01:15:03,780 --> 01:15:05,159 While Serbs alone 1525 01:15:05,160 --> 01:15:08,039 were sentenced to over 1,000 years in prison 1526 01:15:08,040 --> 01:15:10,559 for crimes in the former Yugoslavia. 1527 01:15:10,560 --> 01:15:12,089 The verdict of this court, 1528 01:15:12,090 --> 01:15:15,359 that what happened in Srebrenica constituted genocide, 1529 01:15:15,360 --> 01:15:19,679 remains an open topic in some circles to this day. 1530 01:15:19,680 --> 01:15:21,869 By politicising the victims of war, 1531 01:15:21,870 --> 01:15:24,089 it makes it that much harder for one nation 1532 01:15:24,090 --> 01:15:27,539 to truly understand the suffering and tragedy of another, 1533 01:15:27,540 --> 01:15:30,809 understanding not a Bosniak's, nor a Croat's, 1534 01:15:30,810 --> 01:15:33,929 nor a Serb's pain, but rather a human being's pain 1535 01:15:33,930 --> 01:15:36,329 would help to bring closure to these dark pages 1536 01:15:36,330 --> 01:15:37,559 of human history. 1537 01:15:37,560 --> 01:15:40,139 But most importantly, help prevent something like this 1538 01:15:40,140 --> 01:15:43,229 from ever happening again here in Bosnia and Herzegovina, 1539 01:15:43,230 --> 01:15:44,433 and also in Croatia. 1540 01:15:48,000 --> 01:15:49,799 Knin is a city in Croatia where, 1541 01:15:49,800 --> 01:15:52,259 before the civil war in 1991, 1542 01:15:52,260 --> 01:15:55,649 Serbs made up 80% of the population. 1543 01:15:55,650 --> 01:15:59,159 With the conquest of the Ottoman Empire in the 14th century, 1544 01:15:59,160 --> 01:16:02,669 many Serbs started migrating north to neighbouring Austria. 1545 01:16:02,670 --> 01:16:05,339 Some of the displaced Serbs settled in the border area, 1546 01:16:05,340 --> 01:16:07,829 which came to be known as the Vojna Krajina 1547 01:16:07,830 --> 01:16:11,849 or Military Frontier, which acted as the cordon sanitaire 1548 01:16:11,850 --> 01:16:14,729 against incursions from the Ottoman Empire. 1549 01:16:14,730 --> 01:16:17,519 After the Ottomans left and Austria-Hungary crumbled, 1550 01:16:17,520 --> 01:16:19,679 the number of Serbs living in the Krajina region 1551 01:16:19,680 --> 01:16:21,359 remained significant. 1552 01:16:21,360 --> 01:16:24,299 After they fell victim to genocide during World War II, 1553 01:16:24,300 --> 01:16:26,399 the Serbs became a constitutional part 1554 01:16:26,400 --> 01:16:29,523 of the Socialist Republic of Croatia within Yugoslavia. 1555 01:16:32,460 --> 01:16:34,972 This meant that important decisions about Croatia 1556 01:16:34,973 --> 01:16:37,229 were to be made by a consensus 1557 01:16:37,230 --> 01:16:40,199 between both Croats and Serbs. 1558 01:16:40,200 --> 01:16:43,679 But in 1991, Serbs were outvoted in a referendum 1559 01:16:43,680 --> 01:16:46,739 and Croatia declared Serbs a national minority, 1560 01:16:46,740 --> 01:16:49,323 thus marginalising their political significance. 1561 01:16:50,340 --> 01:16:52,589 In the years leading up to the referendum, 1562 01:16:52,590 --> 01:16:54,389 Serbs and their properties 1563 01:16:54,390 --> 01:16:56,364 were the target of numerous attacks. 1564 01:16:56,365 --> 01:16:58,979 GREETINGS FROM THE USTASHE! 1565 01:16:58,980 --> 01:17:01,079 In an attempt to preserve their rights 1566 01:17:01,080 --> 01:17:02,879 and protect themselves, 1567 01:17:02,880 --> 01:17:05,879 Serbs proclaimed the Republika Srpska Krajina, 1568 01:17:05,880 --> 01:17:08,609 which had all the elements of statehood. 1569 01:17:08,610 --> 01:17:12,029 A bloody war was fought until 1995 1570 01:17:12,030 --> 01:17:15,119 when the Croatian Army launched Operation Storm, 1571 01:17:15,120 --> 01:17:18,299 a military operation that effectively extinguished 1572 01:17:18,300 --> 01:17:20,159 the Republika Srpska Krajina 1573 01:17:20,160 --> 01:17:24,839 and expelled more than 200,000 Serbs from the area. 1574 01:17:24,840 --> 01:17:28,049 Those fleeing the army had little to no time 1575 01:17:28,050 --> 01:17:30,029 to take with them what they could, 1576 01:17:30,030 --> 01:17:33,303 while many who remained in their homes were killed. 1577 01:17:33,304 --> 01:17:36,269 The Serbian Krajina was a thorn in the eye 1578 01:17:36,270 --> 01:17:41,270 of all Croatian political doctrines in the last 200 years, 1579 01:17:41,553 --> 01:17:46,300 because the Serbs that guarded the Austro-Hungarian borders 1580 01:17:46,301 --> 01:17:50,483 didn't report to the local authorities in Croatia, 1581 01:17:50,484 --> 01:17:52,808 but rather directly to the Austrian throne. 1582 01:17:52,809 --> 01:17:56,966 And that hatred towards Serbs escalated, 1583 01:17:56,967 --> 01:18:01,125 not only in theory, but also through mass killings. 1584 01:18:02,910 --> 01:18:06,209 Today, there are eight times fewer Serbs in Knin 1585 01:18:06,210 --> 01:18:07,619 than before the war. 1586 01:18:07,620 --> 01:18:08,969 Almost no Serbs left 1587 01:18:08,970 --> 01:18:11,609 in practically all areas of Bosnia and Herzegovina 1588 01:18:11,610 --> 01:18:14,369 that didn't become a part of Republika Srpska. 1589 01:18:14,370 --> 01:18:16,349 Even in Mostar, the birthplace 1590 01:18:16,350 --> 01:18:19,679 of one of the greatest Serbian poets, Aleksa Santic. 1591 01:18:19,680 --> 01:18:22,319 There were more than 19,000 Serbian residents here, 1592 01:18:22,320 --> 01:18:25,829 and now that number's diminished down to about 3,000. 1593 01:18:25,830 --> 01:18:29,549 After the signing of the Dayton Peace Agreement in 1995, 1594 01:18:29,550 --> 01:18:32,039 which ended the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina, 1595 01:18:32,040 --> 01:18:36,654 about 150,000 Serbs left the parts of Sarajevo, 1596 01:18:36,655 --> 01:18:38,655 where they lived, in the middle of winter. 1597 01:21:01,119 --> 01:21:02,950 I left everything I had. 1598 01:21:24,617 --> 01:21:26,429 During this exodus, 1599 01:21:26,430 --> 01:21:29,369 they even dug out their dead loved ones 1600 01:21:29,370 --> 01:21:32,108 in fear of their graves being desecrated. 1601 01:22:17,970 --> 01:22:20,009 The Serbs in Republika Srpska knew 1602 01:22:20,010 --> 01:22:22,649 that if they wanted to remain on their historical land, 1603 01:22:22,650 --> 01:22:25,589 west of the Drina River, they had to defend themselves, 1604 01:22:25,590 --> 01:22:27,867 just like their ancestors did. 1605 01:22:50,700 --> 01:22:52,979 On this spot, Serbs in Nevesinje 1606 01:22:52,980 --> 01:22:55,349 met with representatives of Western powers, 1607 01:22:55,350 --> 01:22:58,739 urging them to reconsider rebelling against the Ottomans 1608 01:22:58,740 --> 01:22:59,880 as Germany and Austria 1609 01:22:59,881 --> 01:23:02,849 didn't want instability in their border areas. 1610 01:23:02,850 --> 01:23:05,369 Despite not having support from the West 1611 01:23:05,370 --> 01:23:08,579 or even Serbia, Montenegro, or Russia, 1612 01:23:08,580 --> 01:23:10,079 the Serbs of Nevesinje 1613 01:23:10,080 --> 01:23:13,469 raised an armed uprising by themselves. 1614 01:23:13,470 --> 01:23:17,159 When asked, "How will you fight without food or ammunition," 1615 01:23:17,160 --> 01:23:22,160 one of the rebels took a handful of his land and said, 1616 01:23:22,477 --> 01:23:24,509 "This is my food and ammunition. 1617 01:23:24,510 --> 01:23:26,129 So as long as we have this, 1618 01:23:26,130 --> 01:23:28,250 we have the means to fight 1619 01:23:30,600 --> 01:23:33,847 and something to die for." 1620 01:23:35,070 --> 01:23:38,489 The Army of Republika Srpska was almost twice as small 1621 01:23:38,490 --> 01:23:41,159 as the combined Muslim and Croat armies. 1622 01:23:41,160 --> 01:23:44,219 Despite not exceeding 80,000 fighters, 1623 01:23:44,220 --> 01:23:45,899 the Serbs controlled a front line 1624 01:23:45,900 --> 01:23:49,559 that at one point spanned 3,000 kilometres. 1625 01:23:49,560 --> 01:23:51,749 They sometimes had the support of Serbia, 1626 01:23:51,750 --> 01:23:53,519 though even Serbia at one point 1627 01:23:53,520 --> 01:23:56,909 imposed sanctions against Republika Srpska. 1628 01:23:56,910 --> 01:23:59,909 The international community and Western politicians 1629 01:23:59,910 --> 01:24:01,949 as well as mainstream media outlets 1630 01:24:01,950 --> 01:24:04,379 were firmly against the Serbs. 1631 01:24:04,380 --> 01:24:07,109 With NATO even bombing Serb positions 1632 01:24:07,110 --> 01:24:10,559 in Republika Srpska in 1995. 1633 01:24:10,560 --> 01:24:12,329 Yet, despite all of this, 1634 01:24:12,330 --> 01:24:15,089 the Army of Republika Srpska resisted 1635 01:24:15,090 --> 01:24:19,023 and defended their homes just like their ancestors did. 1636 01:24:19,860 --> 01:24:22,079 The strong resistance of the Serb soldiers 1637 01:24:22,080 --> 01:24:24,389 was all a part of the same heroism 1638 01:24:24,390 --> 01:24:26,073 that Jovan Ducic recognised. 1639 01:24:27,210 --> 01:24:29,729 Jovan Ducic was a Serb writer and diplomat 1640 01:24:29,730 --> 01:24:31,709 at the turn of the 20th century, 1641 01:24:31,710 --> 01:24:34,319 born in Trebinje in Herzegovina. 1642 01:24:34,320 --> 01:24:35,999 In writing about heroism, 1643 01:24:36,000 --> 01:24:38,429 he says that Serbs are the only people 1644 01:24:38,430 --> 01:24:41,789 whose hero ordeal is similar to the ancient one; 1645 01:24:41,790 --> 01:24:45,753 as someone who sacrifices himself for the good of others. 1646 01:24:46,830 --> 01:24:48,659 The heroes of the Battle of Kosovo 1647 01:24:48,660 --> 01:24:51,059 against the Ottomans in the 14th century, 1648 01:24:51,060 --> 01:24:53,009 Milos Obilic and Prince Lazar 1649 01:24:53,010 --> 01:24:54,929 as well as the entire Serbian army 1650 01:24:54,930 --> 01:24:57,899 knowingly gave their lives for freedom 1651 01:24:57,900 --> 01:25:00,539 and what that freedom represents. 1652 01:25:00,540 --> 01:25:02,039 Under the Ottoman occupation, 1653 01:25:02,040 --> 01:25:04,169 the heroes were called Hajduks, 1654 01:25:04,170 --> 01:25:07,649 outlaws who took from rich Ottomans and gave to the poor, 1655 01:25:07,650 --> 01:25:10,919 risking their own lives for freedom. 1656 01:25:10,920 --> 01:25:13,109 The heroes of the first Serbian uprising 1657 01:25:13,110 --> 01:25:14,160 against the Ottomans 1658 01:25:14,161 --> 01:25:17,549 at the beginning of the 19th century weren't noblemen. 1659 01:25:17,550 --> 01:25:20,849 They were simply those who fought to liberate their people 1660 01:25:20,850 --> 01:25:23,909 through courage and sacrifice. 1661 01:25:23,910 --> 01:25:25,619 Despite terrible conditions, 1662 01:25:25,620 --> 01:25:27,959 faced with attacks from all sides, 1663 01:25:27,960 --> 01:25:30,479 the fighters of the Army of Republika Srpska 1664 01:25:30,480 --> 01:25:32,189 managed to preserve the territory 1665 01:25:32,190 --> 01:25:35,039 where Serbs live in Bosnia and Herzegovina 1666 01:25:35,040 --> 01:25:36,753 during three years of war. 1667 01:25:55,860 --> 01:25:57,179 In order to show continuity 1668 01:25:57,180 --> 01:25:59,219 with their compatriots and ancestors, 1669 01:25:59,220 --> 01:26:02,009 who gave their lives for the same struggle in World War I 1670 01:26:02,010 --> 01:26:04,289 and were buried in Zeitenlik in Greece, 1671 01:26:04,290 --> 01:26:05,759 this place of eternal rest 1672 01:26:05,760 --> 01:26:07,979 for the soldiers of the Army of Republic Srpska 1673 01:26:07,980 --> 01:26:11,729 in Sokolac, near Sarajevo, was named Mali Zejtnilik 1674 01:26:11,730 --> 01:26:13,353 or Small Zeitenlik. 1675 01:26:16,920 --> 01:26:18,749 For the first time in centuries, 1676 01:26:18,750 --> 01:26:20,849 Serbs west of the Drina River 1677 01:26:20,850 --> 01:26:23,159 have all the mechanisms to shape 1678 01:26:23,160 --> 01:26:25,529 and organise their own lives. 1679 01:26:25,530 --> 01:26:27,719 Republika Srpska covers around half 1680 01:26:27,720 --> 01:26:29,399 of Bosnia and Herzegovina 1681 01:26:29,400 --> 01:26:31,739 and has all the elements of statehood. 1682 01:26:31,740 --> 01:26:36,599 It has its own government, assembly, president, police, 1683 01:26:36,600 --> 01:26:38,909 but also the ability to influence 1684 01:26:38,910 --> 01:26:42,599 the political course of Bosnia and Herzegovina. 1685 01:26:42,600 --> 01:26:45,719 Therefore, Republika Srpska isn't just a political entity, 1686 01:26:45,720 --> 01:26:47,189 it's the necessary minimum 1687 01:26:47,190 --> 01:26:50,399 for Serbs to survive in a land where they've always lived. 1688 01:26:50,400 --> 01:26:53,399 The Principality of Serbia was the first country, 1689 01:26:53,400 --> 01:26:56,309 aside from France, to abolish feudalism 1690 01:26:56,310 --> 01:26:59,939 and the only one that didn't have nobility in Europe. 1691 01:26:59,940 --> 01:27:01,702 Everyone was equal. 1692 01:27:02,988 --> 01:27:07,109 In the two world wars, the Serbs made enormous sacrifices 1693 01:27:07,110 --> 01:27:10,293 with the most per capita deaths in the Great War. 1694 01:27:11,280 --> 01:27:14,009 This willingness to sacrifice everything for freedom 1695 01:27:14,010 --> 01:27:16,889 is due to the Serbs' unique attitude towards freedom, 1696 01:27:16,890 --> 01:27:19,019 which means to be one's own 1697 01:27:19,020 --> 01:27:21,239 and brings with it the cultural paradigm 1698 01:27:21,240 --> 01:27:24,721 that everyone must be free, and thus equal. 1699 01:27:29,340 --> 01:27:31,889 That is why Serbs have always been a thorn 1700 01:27:31,890 --> 01:27:35,099 in the eye of many colonisers and occupiers, 1701 01:27:35,100 --> 01:27:37,229 and they still are today. 1702 01:27:37,230 --> 01:27:39,269 As long as a Serb exists, 1703 01:27:39,270 --> 01:27:43,319 he or she has a spiritual duty to fight slavery 1704 01:27:43,320 --> 01:27:45,989 and inequality in every way. 1705 01:27:45,990 --> 01:27:48,239 Republika Srpska wasn't planned. 1706 01:27:48,240 --> 01:27:51,269 It's a consequence of the Serbs struggle for freedom, 1707 01:27:51,270 --> 01:27:53,369 and the pledge that will always exist 1708 01:27:53,370 --> 01:27:56,223 is at the heart of what it means to be a Serb. 1709 01:27:57,515 --> 01:27:59,789 To be a Serb means to be free, 1710 01:27:59,790 --> 01:28:02,130 which bothers many. 1711 01:28:02,131 --> 01:28:05,479 And to be free means being strong enough to be free 1712 01:28:05,480 --> 01:28:08,503 and live in a cathartic history 1713 01:28:08,504 --> 01:28:12,307 in which you never allowed yourself to be defeated. 1714 01:28:12,308 --> 01:28:13,531 Serbs are a nation 1715 01:28:13,532 --> 01:28:16,357 that was never fully defeated in its history. 1716 01:28:16,358 --> 01:28:19,282 It wasn't defeated during Turkish times, 1717 01:28:19,283 --> 01:28:21,423 when the Serbian and Russian churches 1718 01:28:21,424 --> 01:28:24,398 had very active cooperation in the 16th century, 1719 01:28:24,399 --> 01:28:26,454 and afterwards, when it liberated itself 1720 01:28:26,455 --> 01:28:28,612 and created the conditions 1721 01:28:28,613 --> 01:28:31,708 for other nations to thrive in the region. 1722 01:28:31,709 --> 01:28:33,833 This was the First Serbian Uprising 1723 01:28:33,834 --> 01:28:35,862 or the First Serbian Revolution 1724 01:28:35,863 --> 01:28:38,687 in which Karadjordje essentially helped all other nations 1725 01:28:38,688 --> 01:28:42,510 to go down the path to where they are today. 1726 01:28:42,511 --> 01:28:47,452 Being undefeated is a precondition for being free. 1727 01:28:48,385 --> 01:28:50,185 For me, that is the Serbian nation. 1728 01:28:53,580 --> 01:28:55,926 As Serb poet Aleksa Santic wrote, 1729 01:28:55,927 --> 01:28:58,799 "We know our fate and all we're in for; 1730 01:28:58,800 --> 01:29:02,249 O yet our hearts in fright will not shiver. 1731 01:29:02,250 --> 01:29:05,879 Oxen bow down but men do not quiver, 1732 01:29:05,880 --> 01:29:10,014 for God unto men freedom did bestow." 140265

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