Last November in Banjaluka, I had the good fortune to meet Katarina Kruhonja, from the Center for Peace, Nonviolence and Human Rights, Osijek, Mr. Adam Curle, a name well known to anyone familiar with the European peace scene, and one very special person and our friend, the writer and peace-builder from Sweden, Margareta Ingelstam.

Thanks to Margareta's idea, good will and effort, CCPN received support from the World Council of Churches and we are the 9th city in the Peace to the City Network!
 

 

As a part of  "Peace to the City," WCC is supporting our "Partners for the Future" project, which was suggested by Margaret Ingelstam. The partner cities are Tuzla, B&H, and Osijek, Croatia. Co-organisers in this project are the Centre for Culture of Peace and Nonviolence from Osijek, Croatia, and "Vive zene" therapy center for women and children, Tuzla. The main organiser with financial responsibility in the project is Centre for Culture of Peace and Nonviolence, Tuzla.

Why Osijek and Tuzla?

Osijek and Tuzla are connected not only by their geographic proximity, but also by their historical and present similarities. In these towns people did not just wait for things to  happen to them - they tried to control events, and make a better life for all.  Evidence  of that can be found in their rich and  varied NGO scenes with  their tangible influence on these communities. The municipalities of Tuzla and Osijek adopted the Protocol of Friendship and Cooperation on 16 July 1996. The mayors of the Municipalities met on a ferry on the river Sava to sign this Protocol. The river Sava has brought the people together, even though the bridges were destroyed during the war.

What do we hope to accomplish?

• We want to construct new bridges like the one built in Orasje, which will be in use soon!
• We want improve co-operation among the twins cities, promote friendly relations and together make new links with the cities in Europe and all over the world
• We want improve interethnic and inter-religious dialogue, by creating and strengthening links among  peace initiatives, and include representatives from the municipalities in these efforts!
• As result of our first meetings to share ideas and experiences and investigate the possibilities for future cooperation, we hope to promote future co-operation through joint projects. We want to be partners for the future!

Cvijeta Novakovic