WORLD NEWS FOR MONTENEGRO DIASPORA
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AUTHOR:M.J. GDNUS
Non-governmental organizations and civic activists welcome the decision of the Public Institution "Ratković's Poetry Evenings" to remove the name of Radovan Karadzic, a war criminal sentenced to life imprisonment for genocide, crimes against humanity and violations of the laws and customs of war, from the list of award winners available on the official website.
In a statement, they remind that on June 26, they sent an initiative to this institution to deprive Karadzic of the "Risto Ratković" poetry award, awarded during the war in 1993. By being welcomed by the then leadership in Montenegro, he was effectively given political legitimacy for his role in the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the civic activists noted in a statement.
"We regret that the Public Institution "Ratković Poetry Evenings" did not recognize our initiative as its responsibility in its first response and that it did not make a decision to withdraw the award before July 11, the 30th anniversary of the Srebrenica genocide. Only after the second letter, in which we pointed out that Karadžić's name was still on the list of laureates, did the decision to remove his name follow - and without public communication. However, we consider this move to be important, because it represents the first symbolic step towards correcting the mistake from 1993, which damaged the reputation of the award, the name of the writer Risto Ratković and the image of Bijelo Polje, a city that, even in the most difficult times, was an example of solidarity and respect for diversity," the statement reads.
Also, taking into account the overall context, we commend the position of the President of the Council of the Public Institution "Ratković Poetry Evenings" that this process should be formally and legally completed, and we expect this to be completed as soon as possible.
As they add, it is very important to send a message at all levels that culture cannot be put at the service of crime.
"Also, since the 55th Ratković Poetry Evenings begin on September 3, we invite everyone to visit Bijelo Polje and see something from the interesting three-day program," concludes the statement signed by:
Daliborka Uljarević, Center for Civic Education (CCE)
Tea Gorjanc Prelević, Human Rights Action (HRA)
Ervina Dabižinović, Center for Women's and Peace Education ANIMA
Demir Ličina, Association "Štrpci - Against Oblivion"
Velija Murić, Montenegrin Committee of Lawyers for Human Rights
Dina Bajramspahić, civic activist
Jovana Marović, civic activist
