ASARS PROGRAM FOR COMMEMORATING A HUNDREDTH ANNIVERSARY FROM THE BEGINNING OF WORLD WAR I
30.01.2014.
A special emphasis in the Work Program of the Academy of Sciences and Arts of the Republic of Srpska for 2014 was placed on commemorating a hundredth anniversary since the beginning of the First World War in 1914. There are many reasons for that. In many European countries, and especially in France, Germany and Austria and even in the rest of the word, different events and gatherings are being prepared and other activities carried out on the occasion of commemorating the hundredth anniversary of outbreak of the First World War. There are some serious indications and some concrete information suggesting that these preparations are going in the direction of proclaiming Serbia and Serbian people the main culprits for the outbreak of the War. This is evident from the attempts to reduce the commemoration on the occasion that preceded the war itself – the assassination of the Austro-Hungarian Archduke Franz Ferdinand on 28 June 2014, and leave out the most important facts i.e. the real causes and consequences related to the Great War. It has been undoubtedly established and confirmed by historical facts that the then Central Powers were responsible for the beginning of the war, and that the assassination of the Austro-Hungarian Archduke on 28 June 1914 was just a pretext used by Austro-Hungary to declare the war against Serbia one month later, i.e. on 28 July 1914. Austro-Hungary believed that it would be easy to destroy Serbia, but after Serbia turned down the ultimatum, Russia declared the war to Austro-Hungary, Germany to Russia and France, and thus the First World War began. It is more than clear that the real reasons for the beginning of the war were in the interest of the great powers.
All these reasons oblige both the Republic of Srpska and the Republic of Serbia to commemorate, in this year, one hundredth anniversary of the beginning of the First World War and not let the established historical facts be twisted and abused at the expense and to the detriment of the Serbian people. The world must face the truth that the Serbian intellectuals and the then members of Young Bosnia fought only for the independence and freedom of their people, i.e. for its equal participation and cooperation with the other European nations. One of the testimonies of that is presented by the life and work of Dimitrije Mitrinovic, who was the first to start the idea on unification of Europe and who was a member of Young Bosnia. So, an overall program of commemoration will be prepared in the Republic of Srpska, and all the institutions will make their contribution.
In reference to that, the Academy of Sciences and Arts of the Republic of Srpska, more precisely its Institute of History, will organize an international conference on the subject “The First World War – Causes and Consequences” on 30 and 31 May 2014. Also, the exhibition of the documents on the First World War will be organized in cooperation with the Republic of Srpska Archives, on 29 May 2014.
In the first session of the Organizational Board, held on 28 January 2014 the implementation plan and the provisionary program for this international scientific conference were agreed. In this conference all the causes, development and consequences of the First World War will be discussed, in a comprehensive manner, by applying multidisciplinary approach and based on scientifically confirmed information and historical facts. Renowned scholars from abroad (about 10), Serbia (about 10), the Republic of Srpska (about 20) and BH Federation (5) are expected to participate in the conference. After the conference the proceedings will be published that will contain all the presentations.
All the activities related to the organization of this conference as well as the exhibition will be implemented by the Academy together with other cultural and scientific institutions and especially with “Ivo Andric” Institute in Visegrad, which will host the central event on the occasion of commemorating this event.
We are certain that thanks to participants’ scientific competence and irrefutable historical facts more light will be shed on this event and it will be proved that Gavrilo Princip was not a terrorist or nationalist, and that the efforts at presenting him as such are just an attempt at changing and forging the history of the Great War.