REPORTER: The mayor is a Serb, while the head of the local council is a Bosniak. How do you two cooperate?
RADIVOJEVIC: We cooperate pretty well. We've tried to find a common goal and focus on the future; we want to find a joint path to Europe. Our common goal is to restart economy here in Srebrenica. I think that we have succeeded in that.
How long will the recovery take?
We reckon that it will take between five and ten years, but we are aware that the economy has been totally destroyed. In practice the municipality covers 530 square kilometers, 50 of which are used by the local population, while the rest is empty space. Before the war Srebrenica had 36,000 inhabitants in 79 settlements. 75 pre-war settlements were destroyed, four remain and that is Srebrenica today. The complete infrastructure was destroyed - electrical network, water works, roads, everything created by human work in the last decade of the 20th century. In order to start all that we need a program and we are working on it in cooperation with the international community. We are trying to come up with a realistic amount needed to kick start the economic and social development of Srebrenica. Besides a human tragedy known to the whole world took place here.
Will the improved roads contribute to the return of refugees to their pre-war homes?
We are negotiating about the establishment of a bus line between Srebrenica and Bratunac. The line was abolished because the local company "Srebrenica-transport" was doing very badly financially. The company lacked basic resources - busses. We are now talking with them and I think that we are close to reaching an agreement and that busses will be back on the road soon. Then, we shall establish communication between Srebrenica and Skelani, via Jadar, so that that should also be helpful for the population.
We shall achieve the conditions required for the return of all to their pre-war homes. We need to rebuild houses and the complete pre-war infrastructure. During the realization of the population return program in 2001 we insisted that that should be multiethnic, that infrastructure should be sufficient for at least five to ten households that want to return to their homes; then it is necessary to provide security so that people can live safely in this region, regardless of their ethnicity.
What is the current status of the former Skelani municipality?
It is known that the High Representative for Bosnia-Hercegovina, Mr. Petritsch, using his authority in connection with the advancement of human rights and return of refugees to their pre-war homes, issued a decree which abolished the Skelani municipality, established in 1992.
What will happen to the people employed by the Skelani municipality?
The Srebrenica municipality, with the assistance of the Republic of Srpska has taken responsibility for all employees of the former Skelani municipality.