Haris Silajdžic
Encyclopedia
Haris Silajdžić (born 1 October 1945) is a Bosnian politician
and academic. In the 2006 elections, Silajdžić was elected as the Bosniak
member of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina
for four years in the rotating presidency.
He was born in Sarajevo
, Bosnia and Herzegovina
, Yugoslavia.
and as the prime minister from 1993 to 1996. During the Bosnian War
, starting in April 1992 and finally ending with the Dayton Accords, he was perceived as the most visible advocate for self-defense and military assistance to Bosnia, insisting Bosnia faced foreign aggression by Croatia and Serbia based on Karađorđevo agreement
. He also spoke on the issue of ethnic cleansing
of Bosniaks and Bosnian Croats by the Serb forces. He continuously visited Western and Islamic capitals, as well as to the UN, raising the issue of injustice and ethnic cleansing
.
In 2007, the International Court of Justice
in the Hague acquitted Serbia of the charges of complicity in genocide brought against the "Federal Republic of Yugoslavia" by the Bosnian government. Silajdžić expressed disappointment at the court's ruling, but welcomed the fact that the court "ruled that Serbia and Montenegro had violated the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide
by not preventing or punishing the perpetrators of the genocide.".
Silajdžić has been a member of the Bosnian delegation which negotiated the US-brokered Dayton Accords. He continues stressing that the document was essential in ending the genocide in Bosnia-Herzegovina, but now sees it as an obstacle in reunifying the country. Making strong steps and claims in 2006 and 2007 towards canceling certain parts of Dayton accords, he directly opposes the constitution of the country, thus being a very controversial political figure, famous on the Bosniak and infamous on the Serbian side. His main directions are abolishing the existence of Republika Srpska, breaking certain relations with Serbia and reforming the country towards unity. He continues to be a key figure in Bosnian politics. Originally, he was a member and vice-president of the Party of Democratic Action
, but broke away from the party in 1997 by funding his own Party for Bosnia and Herzegovina
.
At this time, Haris Silajdžić is the last Bosnian war-time politician who still actively impacts public life, in addition to Zlatko Lagumdžija
who was Bosnia's Deputy Prime Minister during the war and who has held, and continues to hold, various public offices since that time. Silajdžić had a strong political comeback in the 2006 elections. He is backed by authorities and organizations throughout Bosnia-Herzegovina that voice dissatisfaction with the Dayton Accord provisions and oppose autonomy of the Republika Srpska
entity within Bosnia-Herzegovina.
In 2005 he received a Doctor honoris causa by the Geneva School of Diplomacy and International Relations
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Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
and academic. In the 2006 elections, Silajdžić was elected as the Bosniak
Bosniaks
The Bosniaks or Bosniacs are a South Slavic ethnic group, living mainly in Bosnia and Herzegovina, with a smaller minority also present in other lands of the Balkan Peninsula especially in Serbia, Montenegro and Croatia...
member of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina
Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina
The Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina is the head of state of Bosnia and Herzegovina.-Overview:...
for four years in the rotating presidency.
He was born in Sarajevo
Sarajevo
Sarajevo |Bosnia]], surrounded by the Dinaric Alps and situated along the Miljacka River in the heart of Southeastern Europe and the Balkans....
, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina , sometimes called Bosnia-Herzegovina or simply Bosnia, is a country in Southern Europe, on the Balkan Peninsula. Bordered by Croatia to the north, west and south, Serbia to the east, and Montenegro to the southeast, Bosnia and Herzegovina is almost landlocked, except for the...
, Yugoslavia.
Political career
From 1990 to 1993 he served as the foreign minister of Bosnia and HerzegovinaBosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina , sometimes called Bosnia-Herzegovina or simply Bosnia, is a country in Southern Europe, on the Balkan Peninsula. Bordered by Croatia to the north, west and south, Serbia to the east, and Montenegro to the southeast, Bosnia and Herzegovina is almost landlocked, except for the...
and as the prime minister from 1993 to 1996. During the Bosnian War
Bosnian War
The Bosnian War or the War in Bosnia and Herzegovina was an international armed conflict that took place in Bosnia and Herzegovina between April 1992 and December 1995. The war involved several sides...
, starting in April 1992 and finally ending with the Dayton Accords, he was perceived as the most visible advocate for self-defense and military assistance to Bosnia, insisting Bosnia faced foreign aggression by Croatia and Serbia based on Karađorđevo agreement
Karađorđevo agreement
In 1991, Croatian president Franjo Tuđman and Serbian president Slobodan Milošević had a series of discussions which became known as the Karađorđevo agreement or, less commonly, the Karađorđevo meeting. These discussions commenced as early as March, 1991...
. He also spoke on the issue of ethnic cleansing
Ethnic cleansing
Ethnic cleansing is a purposeful policy designed by one ethnic or religious group to remove by violent and terror-inspiring means the civilian population of another ethnic orreligious group from certain geographic areas....
of Bosniaks and Bosnian Croats by the Serb forces. He continuously visited Western and Islamic capitals, as well as to the UN, raising the issue of injustice and ethnic cleansing
Ethnic cleansing
Ethnic cleansing is a purposeful policy designed by one ethnic or religious group to remove by violent and terror-inspiring means the civilian population of another ethnic orreligious group from certain geographic areas....
.
In 2007, the International Court of Justice
International Court of Justice
The International Court of Justice is the primary judicial organ of the United Nations. It is based in the Peace Palace in The Hague, Netherlands...
in the Hague acquitted Serbia of the charges of complicity in genocide brought against the "Federal Republic of Yugoslavia" by the Bosnian government. Silajdžić expressed disappointment at the court's ruling, but welcomed the fact that the court "ruled that Serbia and Montenegro had violated the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide
Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide
The Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on 9 December 1948 as General Assembly Resolution 260. The Convention entered into force on 12 January 1951. It defines genocide in legal terms, and is the culmination of...
by not preventing or punishing the perpetrators of the genocide.".
Silajdžić has been a member of the Bosnian delegation which negotiated the US-brokered Dayton Accords. He continues stressing that the document was essential in ending the genocide in Bosnia-Herzegovina, but now sees it as an obstacle in reunifying the country. Making strong steps and claims in 2006 and 2007 towards canceling certain parts of Dayton accords, he directly opposes the constitution of the country, thus being a very controversial political figure, famous on the Bosniak and infamous on the Serbian side. His main directions are abolishing the existence of Republika Srpska, breaking certain relations with Serbia and reforming the country towards unity. He continues to be a key figure in Bosnian politics. Originally, he was a member and vice-president of the Party of Democratic Action
Party of Democratic Action
The Party of Democratic Action is a Bosniak national political party in Bosnia and Herzegovina.-History:The Party of Democratic Action was founded in May 1990 by Alija Izetbegović, representing the Bosnian Muslim population...
, but broke away from the party in 1997 by funding his own Party for Bosnia and Herzegovina
Party for Bosnia and Herzegovina
The Party for Bosnia and Herzegovina is a liberal conservative political party in Bosnia and Herzegovina led by Haris Silajdžić. On the issues of the internal divisions of Bosnia, SBiH wants to eliminate two entities, and establish a "one man-one vote political system" in an unified...
.
At this time, Haris Silajdžić is the last Bosnian war-time politician who still actively impacts public life, in addition to Zlatko Lagumdžija
Zlatko Lagumdžija
Dr. Zlatko Lagumdžija is a Bosnian politician and academic. He is known for his leadership of the Social Democratic Party of Bosnia and Herzegovina...
who was Bosnia's Deputy Prime Minister during the war and who has held, and continues to hold, various public offices since that time. Silajdžić had a strong political comeback in the 2006 elections. He is backed by authorities and organizations throughout Bosnia-Herzegovina that voice dissatisfaction with the Dayton Accord provisions and oppose autonomy of the Republika Srpska
Republika Srpska
Republika Srpska is one of two main political entities of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the other being the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina...
entity within Bosnia-Herzegovina.
In 2005 he received a Doctor honoris causa by the Geneva School of Diplomacy and International Relations
Quotes
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- - Addressing the Stockholm International forum on the Holocaust, January 27, 2000.
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- - Addressing the Stockholm International forum on the Holocaust, January 27, 2000.
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- - Commenting on Karadzić'sRadovan KaradžicRadovan Karadžić is a former Bosnian Serb politician. He is detained in the United Nations Detention Unit of Scheveningen, accused of war crimes committed against Bosnian Muslims and Bosnian Croats during the Siege of Sarajevo, as well as ordering the Srebrenica massacre.Educated as a...
U.N./E.C./U.S. invitation to New York.
- - Commenting on Karadzić's
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- - Commenting about the power relations between the Bosnian entities, the Bosnian parliament and central government during a lecture at the School of Law of UCLA, February 17, 2009.
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External links
- Interview from the BBC's Hardtalk current affairs program
- An interview with Haris Silajdžić
- http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/hardtalk/3890537.stmHaris Silajdžić interview with Tim SebastianTim SebastianTim Sebastian is a television journalist. He is the moderator of the New Arab Debates and the Doha Debates, and was the first presenter of BBC's HARDtalk....
] - Bosnia's new leadership takes shape
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