Statement
by
H. E. Vladimir Drobnjak
Ambassador
Permanent Representative of the Republic of Croatia to the United Nations
Security Council
Post-Conflict National Reconciliation - The Role of the United Nations
26 January 2004
Croatia has aligned itself with the EU statement on the important topic we are dealing with today. Nonetheless I would like to add some further points stemming from Croatia´s hard earned experience on the matter. We believe that empirically gained expertise in this field cannot be supplemented by scholarly knowledge acquired otherwise, and this certainly relates to the sphere of the post-conflict confidence building, reconstruction, recovery and reconciliation.
The complexity of post-conflict management could probably be best explained through the metaphor of growing a tree. To grow a strong and long lasting tree, with deep roots and wide branches, many components are required: soil, water, sunshine, nutrition... But above all time and patience are of the essence. Unfortunately, in many post-conflict areas the international community´s approach sometimes lacks both, trying to achieve too many things in too little time.
Like the growth of a tree, post-conflict reconciliation cannot be rushed. It can be assisted through political, financial, technical and other means, but it cannot be imposed from the outside. And like a tree, when the moment is right it will grow and blossom. If the favorable moment is absent, if it is still early in the making, outer pressure can only damage the fragile growing process.
There is an important distinction between confidence building and reconciliation. The former is a crucial prerequisite for the latter; only then when two sides become confident with each other, can the process of true reconciliation begin. To ignore the differences between the two will slow down the process - the respective population at the grass-roots level is fully aware of these differences; this is a fact no international mediation or assistance effort should overlook. In this highly sensitive process one must carefully listen to the voices of the region, of the nations and of the individuals concerned and respect them.
From the pragmatic point of enhancing the efficiency of our efforts, it would be more than useful to precisely define what the two terms - confidence building and reconciliation - consist of, and keep these definitions in mind while conducting the international community´s work on the ground.
From our point of view, pivotal confidence-building measures are - among others:
Return of refugees and displaced persons
Exchange of data on missing persons
Strengthening stability along the border
Arms verification mechanisms
Joint projects aiming at cross-border cooperation and fight against organized crime
Sport competition
Economic cooperation, primarily based on the private entrepreneurship
Mr. President,
Allow me to briefly point out - starting from Croatia´s experience - two key components that serve as a bedrock for post-conflict confidence building and consequent reconciliation: perspective and justice.
Providing the population in war-torn areas with the perspective of a better life is the best possible investment in national and regional stability. This perspective goes way beyond basic economic categories, although providing steady jobs for the respective population (especially for the former warriors) remains the unsurpassed priority. A quest for new vehicles of cooperation and coexistence that shall provide a secure framework for democratic and economic prosperity is what former enemies usually have in common. The international community should assist them as much as possible to fulfill this quest fruitfully and in the shortest possible time.
Commonly shared goals and interests are at the core of the confidence building process. The perspective of joining the European Union, for example, serves as a strong incentive for all the countries in the area of former Yugoslavia, initiating a number of far-reaching reforms in the fields of economy, justice and home affairs.
Because of the strategic importance of the perspective - for every individual and for the country as a whole - it is of the essence not to blur it or put it beyond reach. The perspective has to be clearly defined and the road towards it must be clear of moving benchmarks and ever growing conditions.
Over the last decade it has become evident that the issue of justice tops the agenda that has to be addressed in post-conflict societies. When respective countries are unwilling or unable to face the responsibility of crimes themselves, the international community has to be ready to step in. On the other hand, we should encourage domestic judicial systems to deal with this pivotal issue, and - once the conditions are fulfilled - transfer to domestic courts as many war-crimes related files as possible.
Justice is often referred to as a "parent to peace". It is indisputably an essential part of the confidence building and reconciliation. In addition to that, amnesty and forgiveness are just as important elements of the healing process in the fragile post-conflict societies. But we must be aware of the fact that as much as they can reconcile, these approaches can add to the polarization of the societies. This is why any external influence has to be carefully measured in order to strike the right balance between judicial and non-judicial means in achieving confidence building and reconciliation. The recent example of Sierra Leone seems to be a promising experiment.
Justice has to be served, but the historical record that leaves no room for misinterpretation must be preserved as well. Forgiveness does not necessarily include forgetfulness. History should not dictate the course of the future, nor be pushed into oblivion. The work of truth and reconciliation commissions, as complex political and psychological process as any can be, often become a sort of "collective therapy" leading to moral revelation and individual and collective repentance. Justice well and justly served fortifies the country´s political stability by creating a new moral climate centered around the rule of law and respect for human rights, while avoiding denial about the past and the causes of conflict.
At the end let me emphasize that Croatia remains determined to continue promoting confidence building and good neighborly relations throughout the region of South-East Europe. In this respect I would like to conclude by quoting the newly appointed Prime-Minister of Croatia, Dr. Ivo Sanader, who recently stated (I quote): "It is with renewed courage that we build a more tolerant society, a society of patience and trust, so as to achieve the victory of forgiveness and compassion over the challenges of divisions and disparities".
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