The leadership of Bosnia and Herzegovina has announced the appointment of new members to the Commission for National Monuments, marking a significant shift in the composition of this body after a decade without international experts. The decision was made during a session of the Presidency of Bosnia and Hercegovina, where members Denis Bećirović and Željka Komšić supported the appointments, while Željka Cvijanović, representing the Republika Srpska, opposed them. Cvijanović refused to submit her own candidate and has since declared her intention to initiate proceedings related to the "vital national interest" of the Serb community within the National Assembly of Republika Srpska. She attempted to frame the inclusion of foreign experts as an issue of external policy, but the Presidency rejected this interpretation.
Among the newly appointed members are Zoran Mikulić, a legal expert who has previously served on the Commission for National Monuments, and Mirza Fočo, a Bosnian-Herzegovinian architect and cultural heritage specialist. Fočo has been actively involved in preserving national monuments for over two decades and held several high-profile roles within the Commission for the Protection of National Monuments in Bosnia and Herzegovina. His work has earned the commission numerous accolades, including the European Union’s Europa Nostra Award for Cultural Heritage in 2010 and recognition from the Federal Ministry of Culture and Sports for his contributions to the preservation of cultural heritage in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
In addition to these domestic appointees, the Commission now includes two international experts recommended by UNESCO. These individuals, Italian architect and urban planner Francesco Bandarin and Kenyan archaeologist and anthropologist George Okello Abungu, were proposed by the Director-General of UNESCO following a ten-year absence of such representatives. Bandarin, who graduated from the Institute of Architecture in Venice and later obtained a master's degree in urban and regional planning from the University of California, Berkeley, has had a distinguished career in heritage conservation. He once directed the Office for Special Projects for the Protection of Venice and its Lagoon and also played a key role in preparing Rome for the Jubilee Year 2000. From 2000 to 2010, he served as the director of UNESCO's World Heritage Centre before becoming an assistant director-general for culture at UNESCO between 2010 and 2017.
George Okello Abungu, on the other hand, is recognized internationally for his expertise in cultural heritage, particularly in the areas of museum de-colonization and the restitution of cultural artifacts. A graduate of the University of Cambridge, he previously served as the General Director of Kenya’s National Museums and currently holds the position of Chief Executive Officer at Okello Abungu Heritage Consultants. His professional focus lies primarily in sustainable development and the ethical management of cultural assets.
The recent changes to the Commission reflect broader reforms initiated by the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina earlier this year. On January 12, the Presidency passed two decisions aimed at revitalizing the Commission’s operations. These decisions reintroduced the participation of international experts into the decision-making process and abolished the right of veto, which had significantly hindered the Commission’s functionality in previous years. This move signals a renewed commitment to ensuring that the protection and preservation of national monuments are handled with both local and global expertise.
However, the decision has sparked controversy, especially within Republika Srpska, where Cvijanović has expressed concerns about the potential impact on the Serb community's interests. She argues that the inclusion of foreign experts could undermine the national interests of the Serbs and has vowed to challenge the decision in the National Assembly of Republika Srpska under the pretext of invoking the “vital national interest.” Despite her objections, the Presidency remains firm in its stance, asserting that the reform is necessary to ensure the effective functioning of the Commission.
Before the new appointments can take full effect, the relevant decree must be officially published in the Official Gazette of Bosnia and Herzegovina. This step will formally recognize the changes and allow the new members to begin their roles. The reinstatement of international experts marks a pivotal moment in the governance of cultural heritage in Bosnia and Herzegovina, potentially setting a precedent for future collaborations and reforms in the field of monument preservation. As the situation unfolds, the response from the National Assembly of Republika Srpska and the broader political landscape will be crucial in determining the long-term implications of these changes.
3 reports
Klix.baIndependentCenterFactual 97Objective 836 days agoThe article reports on the appointment of new members to the Commission for National Monuments in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH). The appointments were decided by the Presidency, with Denis Bećirović and Željko Komšić voting in favor, while Željka Cvijanović voted against. Cvijanović refused to submit her proposal and announced she would request a session of the Assembly of the Republic of Srpska. She attempted to frame the appointment of foreign members as an issue of external politics, but the Presidency rejected this effort. Zoran Mikulić, a legal expert with extensive experience in cultural heritage protection, was reappointed. Mirzah Fočo, a Bosnian-Herzegovinian architect and conservation specialist, was newly appointed after serving as acting head of the Commission for the Preservation of National Monuments since 2015. Additionally, two international members were appointed by UNESCO: Italian professor Francesco Bandarin and Kenyan professor George Okello Abungu, who had been absent from the commission for ten years.
Bias read (Center): While the article discusses political decisions regarding the composition of the Commission, it presents the facts objectively without overtly favoring any particular political stance. The focus is on the procedural aspects of the appointments rather than taking a clear ideological position. The use
Why these scores (Factual 97 · Objective 83): This article provides detailed information about the newly appointed members, including their backgrounds and roles. It accurately reflects the process and decisions made during the meeting. However, the tone slightly leans toward emphasizing the qualifications of the new members, which introduces a
Klix.baIndependentCenterFactual 95Objective 857 days ago BiH Presidency appoints new members of National Monuments Commission: After 10 years, foreign experts returnedThe Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina has appointed new members to the Commission for the Preservation of National Monuments, reversing a previous decision that had excluded foreign experts and imposed a veto mechanism. The changes were implemented during a meeting on January 12th, where two new members were proposed by Presidencies Denisa Bećirović and Željak Komšić, while another two were nominated by the Director-General of UNESCO. However, the representative of the Republika Srpska, Željka Cvijanović, refused to submit her proposal and announced plans to request a session of the Assembly of the Republika Srpska. She attempted to frame the appointment of foreign experts as an issue of external politics but was unsuccessful. The final decision still needs to be published in the Official Gazette of Bosnia and Herzegovina. In 2016, the Presidency under Bakir Izetbegović, Dragan Čović, and Mladen Ivanić had previously adopted decisions introducing consensus-based decision-making and removing foreign experts.
Bias read (Center): While the article discusses a politically sensitive issue involving the composition of a commission and the influence of different political entities, the framing remains relatively balanced. It reports on the actions and positions of multiple parties without overtly favoring any side. The focus is,
Why these scores (Factual 95 · Objective 85): The article accurately reports the appointment of new members to the Commission for National Monuments by the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, including the removal of the veto power and the return of foreign experts. It also mentions Željka Cvijanović’s opposition and her plans to seek a sessi
Dnevni avazParty-alignedCenterFactual 94Objective 827 days agoThe Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina has approved the appointment of new members to the Commission for the Preservation of National Monuments, including foreign experts, effectively ending a ten-year blockade on the commission’s work. Following two decisions made on January 12th regarding the commission’s operations, the Presidency formally implemented them by appointing new members today. The decisions reinstated foreign members in decision-making processes and removed the veto power that had previously hindered the commission’s function. Two members were nominated from the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina at the proposal of Presidency members Denis Bećirović and Željko Komšić, while two others were suggested by the Director-General of UNESCO. Željka Cvijanović, a member of the Presidency from the Republika Srpska, refused to propose her candidate and announced plans to initiate a 'vital national interest' motion to maintain the veto. Cvijanović attempted to frame the appointment of foreign members as a matter of foreign policy, but the Presidency rejected this interpretation. The final decision still needs to be published in the Official Gazette of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Bias read (Center): While the article discusses a politically sensitive issue involving the reintegration of foreign experts into a commission that was previously blocked due to veto powers, the framing remains balanced. It presents both the procedural changes and the resistance from Cvijanović without overtly favoring
Why these scores (Factual 94 · Objective 82): The article gives an accurate account of the events, mentioning the reintegration of foreign experts and the removal of the veto power. It also notes Željka Cvijanović’s response and her intention to initiate a vital national interest procedure. The language is somewhat more emotionally charged comp
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