Member of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina Željko Komšić received David Pettigrew, a professor at Southern Connecticut State University, who was recently declared an honorary citizen of Sarajevo.
During the meeting, Pettigrew emphasized the importance of strengthening the culture of remembrance and advancing transitional justice as essential foundations for reconciliation in Bosnia and Herzegovina. He highlighted the need to remove monuments and memorials dedicated to convicted war criminals, citing examples such as murals of Ratko Mladić and controversial memorials that, he said, undermine trust and reconciliation among citizens.
The interlocutors agreed that reinforcing a culture of remembrance is crucial, particularly through education, where established historical facts must be consistently upheld. They stressed the importance of raising awareness about the genocide and other war crimes committed during the 1990s conflict in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Komšić pointed out that public discourse often refers to the existence of “three historical truths” aligned with the country’s three main ethnic groups, which he firmly rejected. He underlined that there is only one truth, grounded in rulings delivered by international courts, including those in The Hague.
According to Komšić, narratives about “three truths” serve political purposes by deepening ethnic divisions and maintaining existing tensions. He warned that such interpretations hinder efforts toward reconciliation and long-term stability.
The meeting concluded with a shared assessment that strengthening the culture of memory and ensuring effective transitional justice are key to overcoming divisions in Bosnia and Herzegovina, alongside the acknowledgment of genocide and other war crimes.
