The main hall of the Sarajevo University Rectorate was filled to capacity for today's premiere of the latest ICTY Outreach Programme documentary „Crimes before the ICTY: Višegrad“. The event was attended by more than 120 representatives of victims associations, including Višegrad survivors, NGOs, judiciary, diplomats, students and university teaching staff.
Once famous for its Mehmed-paša Sokolović bridge over the river Drina, Višegrad is known today as one of the most emblematic crime scenes in the war-torn region of the former Yugoslavia. Through the testimonies of victims and witnesses, trial and appeals judgments, as well as interviews with the protagonists of the proceedings, „Crimes before the ICTY: Višegrad“ provides an insight into the Tribunal's investigation, prosecution and judicial findings of these crimes.
The film stirred strong emotions among the audience who had numerous questions for the ICTY Outreach Programme representative and co-author of the film, Petar Finci. Huso Kurpsahić, one of the survivors whose recollections were also recorded in the film, thanked the Outreach Programme for the initiative to document the crimes in Višegrad, pointing out that „without the Tribunal, those responsible for the crimes would probably never be brought to justice.“ He added that such films are important so that young generations, who have not experienced the war, could learn what happened, because „there can be no real reconciliation without the truth“.
The Tribunal’s representatives used the opportunity to once again thank victims and witnesses for their immense contribution to the proceedings before the Tribunal over the past two decades.
The Sarajevo premiere was organised in cooperation with the Sarajevo University Rectorate. Summarising his impressions after the screening, Rector Prof. Dr. Muharem Avdispahić pointed out: „Removing all illusions about the past is vital for our future. It is of crucial importance to support the processes which will lift the ban on the right to remember the recent past and help restore the right of young people to learn historical truths. We had an opportunity to see the ICTY Outreach Programme’s contribution to that process at today’s screening. This documentary inevitably raised anew questions about the relationship between the individual and the society, the individual sense of humanity and ethical responsibility of both individuals and communities.“
„Crimes before the ICTY: Višegrad“ will have its Serbian premiere in Belgrade on Friday, 18 March 2016.