War veterans from Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia, with the support of the Centre for Non-Violent Action (CNA) and in cooperation with local partners from the municipality of Vlasotince – the Association of War Veterans 1999 and the Association of Fighters from the 1990 war, visited Vlasotince and Leskovac, two municipalities in the south of Serbia.
During their stay, a working meeting was held with the Organisation of Veterans from the 1991 – 1999 war of the Republic of Serbia located in Leskovac and representatives of municipal committees of this organisation from Niš, Kruševac, Prokuplje, Valjevo and Pirot.
Together, the veterans from the region visited Grdelička klisura in the Leskovac municipality where they attended a commemoration to honour the victims who lost their lives during the bombing of the passenger train on 12 April 1999. They laid wreaths at the memorial and honoured the dead.
The participants and representatives of local veteran associations also met with representatives of the local administration in Vlasotince and Leskovac where they heard expressions of support for initiatives and ways of cooperation such as theirs.
The Centre for Non-Violent Action, which has been working with war veterans from the region since 2002, has been organising visits to sites of suffering throughout Bosnia and Herzegovina since 2008.
The visit to Vlasotince and Leskovac, and the participation at the commemoration in Grdelička klisura was the first organised visit to Serbia.
The participants in the visits include former fighters of the Army of RBiH, the Croat Defence Council, the Army of Republika Srpska, the Croatian Army, and the JNA or Army of Yugoslavia. All visits are organised in direct cooperation, or at least in coordination with local veterans associations. The places to be visited are decided upon by the veterans themselves at specially organised meetings and workshops with the participation of the CNA team that also provides logistical support.
The goal of the visits to honour the victims, contribute to a constructive way to face the past and encourage reconciliation.
Media reports:
http://www.mondo.rs/s286023/Info/Srbija/Odrzan_pomen_poginulim_u_Grdelilckoj_klisuri.html
http://www.b92.net/info/vesti/index.php?yyyy=2013&mm=04&dd=12&nav_category=12&nav_id=704478
http://www.kurir-info.rs/obelezeno-14-godina-od-raketiranja-voza-u-grdelici-clanak-740757