EXHIBITION ON SUFFERING OF SERBS IN THE NDH IN THE USA NEXT YEAR

BELGRADE, NOVEMBER 4 /SRNA/ – The Archives of Vojvodina intends to organise an exhibition in the USA, in cooperation with the Republika Srpska Memorial Centre, documenting crimes committed against Serbs in the NDH, Director of the Archives of Vojvodina Nebojša Kuzmanović told SRNA.

Kuzmanović said that the exhibition in the USA could be organized in April or May.

"It will probably be presented in a traditional format, using exhibition panels or roll-up displays. We will present documents in English so that they can be understood by people in America; afterwards we will do the same in European countries," Kuzmanović announced, adding that the organisers would draw on the positive experience of the Republika Srpska Memorial Centre with its travelling exhibition on the suffering of Serbs.

He pointed out that the Archives of Vojvodina has documents and experience, while the Memorial Centre has the methodology, and that the two institutions will work together on the project.

"We are already preparing a specific programme. It concerns our documents from 1942, entitled `Ustasha Atrocities`, namely a dossier from the personal collection of Slavko Odić. The idea is to create a joint project with the Memorial Centre using these documents, as this is something of great importance," Kuzmanović said.

He said that these were German documents and that they had not been produced after 1945, meaning that their authenticity could not be challenged by claims that communists and partisans had written history.

"These are records compiled by the Germans in 1942 documenting the suffering of Serbs in the NDH during 1941, 1942 and 1943. We have these documents. They have already been presented in Paris, Strasbourg and at the European Parliament, and the idea now is to present them in America," Kuzmanović emphasized.

He announced that Dragan Vujičić, an associate of the Archives of Vojvodina who is also a journalist and writer, would travel to Chicago in ten days to arrange the venue and dates for the exhibition.

REPUBLIKA SRPSKA MEMORIAL CENTRE HAS ACHIEVED REMARKABLE RESULTS IN THE USA WITH ITS TRAVELLING EXHIBITION ON THE SUFFERING OF SERBS

Kuzmanović emphasized the importance of cooperation with the Republika Srpska Memorial Centre, which has experience in preparing and presenting exhibitions on the suffering of Serbs. He praised the Centre's Director, Denis Bojić, and his team for their travelling exhibition on the suffering of Serbs, which they presented using trucks in Washington, New York and across Europe.

Kuzmanović said that the Republika Srpska Memorial Centre is a relatively new institution, but that what it has accomplished this year in the USA with its exhibition on the suffering of the Serb people surpassed everything achieved by all other institutions, both in Serbia and Republika Srpska, as well as in other Serb lands.

"They achieved something truly remarkable in America and Europe with this concept involving cars and trucks. It is a phenomenal thing. I watched them present the suffering of Serbs in Washington and on the streets of New York. I said, `People, this is phenomenal!`" Kuzmanović emphasized.

Kuzmanović says that the Memorial Centre of Republika Srpska has accomplished in the USA, he has long dreamed of doing as Director of the Archives, stressing that such programmes should be organised for people in foreign countries so that they could learn about the suffering of the Serb people and the places of sufferring.

"Denis Bojić, Director of the Memorial Centre of Republika Srpska, and his team have made this happen, and I bow before them. I say, `Well done, everyone! This is an example to follow!`" Kuzmanović emphasized, adding that the project had also inspired the Archives of Serbia to raise its work to a higher level.

He noted that the Archives of Vojvodina is marking its centenary this year, and identified cooperation with institutions and organisations from Republika Srpska, such as the Archives, the National Library, the Research Centre of Crimess and the Association of Women Victims of War, as the most rewarding aspect of its work.

Dragan Vujičić, a journalist and writer who works with the Archives, told SRNA that the organisers are currently arranging the most suitable date for the exhibition in the USA next spring.

"What has been shown in Republika Srpska to be possible is exactly what we need. There is no point in reinventing the wheel when something is already working. So we will work together. We will know more about what and how after October," Vujičić said.

The Memorial Centre of Republika Srpska and the Archives of Vojvodina signed a cooperation agreement in Novi Sad on October 30, providing for joint activities in researching, collecting, preserving and digitizing archival materials and historical sources. They also reaffirmed their commitment to working together to preserve and promote cultural and historical heritage.