In Srebrenica, a church, mosque and cathedral within 200 meters: Serbs and Muslims living together, they reveal what is the wealth of "city of hope" (PHOTO)

The greatest treasure of Srebrenica are the young despite the war that happened, they are living together and they send a message that something like that is possible, said Irvin Mujcic, who started the project "Srebrenica, city of hope", reports Deutsche Welle.

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Even though he spent most of his life in Italy, 29 year old Irvin Mujcic decided to return after more than 20 years to Srebrenica - because as he said, he can sleep quietly and dream again there.

Emotional and financial support 

- That city was known then by nearby sources of mineral water, by artistic and cultural festivals as well as the city of the common life of different ethnic and religious groups.

- That was the third city by life quality in former Yugoslavia. Now, Srebrenica looks like a lost Eden, where the time stopped in 11 July 1995. However, there are families there today, young and older generations.

It one of the rare cities in Republika Srpska where Muslims returned after 1995 - written on the web site where they gathered help to build the house of nature. The aim of the project is "emotional and financial support" for those who decided to return to live in Srebrenica, adds the Association of Friends of Nature.

Foto: Facebook/Irvin Mujić

There is no life with hatred

Father and uncle of Irvin Mujcic were killed, and he finds the motive and strength to fight in Srebrenica for development of Tourism and for cohabitation of Serbs and Muslims.

- That is the only good way in life. There is no life when you have hatred for someone else. We all payed a terrible price of the last war. 

- I don't care if someone is a Serb or a Muslim, of he goes to the mosque or a church, i observe a man as he is. Religious differences are just a wealth. We have a church, a mosque and a Catholic cathedral within 200 meters from one another here in Srebrenica. There are few places in Europe with something like that, and we easily forget what kind of fortune and knowledge we have here - points out Mujcic.

President of Friends of Nature, Christian Faceti, wanting to learn more about Srebrenica and to bring tourists there, visited the city together with the members of his association last year, and he continues with the project this June, when the association is planing a new trip in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

- My feeling is that people from Srebrenica are waiting for something that can help them focus on the future. 

- Unfortunately, we can't help the entire Bosnia, our project is small but we can contribute that the mentality of people is changed a bit, to get the attention to some universal values, like respect and protection of natural environment. That is something that can help among other things in trying to overcome the past - said Faceti for DW.

Return to Srebrenica was some kind of a cure for him, the city he was born in he returns with a project - Srebrenica, city of hope, which has the aim to develop tourist potential and to use natural surrounding of the city. The project is supported by international Association Naturefriends and the Italian association Amici Della Natura (Friends of Nature), and one of the main goals is to build the House of Nature near Srebrenica.

- The idea of the project is to build the House of Nature, which would be something like a hostel, hunters or mountaineers home, where tourists could spend the night. We intend to organize tours through the canyons of the Drina River, visits to nearby villages so tourists will get an opportunity to get to know our people, taste our food, to buy natural food from our people and to support the economy of Bosnia and Herzegovina in that way -

said Mujcic.

Before he decided to return to Srebrenica, Irvin Mujcic lived for more than 20 years in Italy, and then he participated in project to protect human rights in Egypt, Tunisia, Belgium.

- Even though everywhere i have been i felt nice, i had a feeling that something was missing, that i am not where i was supposed to be. Sometimes i dreamed i return home on foot. I went to Bosnia after 7 years, to the March of Peace. When i came to Srebrenica, i couldn't believe that the city was in even worse situation it was 7 years ago. 

- I wondered what was my generation supposed to do, especially those who had the possibility to live, to study in a country that was in peace. I concluded i should return home, do something for Srebrenica, use my knowledge, because that city deserves more help than some other places.

Irvin Mujcic points out that Srebrenica is a city that lives now and that war and crimes must not take the entire place in people's minds. 

- Srebrenica is often compared to Auschwitz. I think that the way memory of Auschwitz is spreading the Europe is not good nor successful. 

There were so many words about the holocaust, about the killing of Roma, and about all of the deaths in World War II. The slogans were repeated so many times - never again, never forget. But, horrible things happened after the World War II all around the world. So, that kind of memory, which is going on victimization, has no effect.

Another way must be found. General picture of Srebrenica is that it is a place is a place of war and suffering and that is the truth. But, is someone spends a week in Srebrenica, they will see a lot of young Serbs and Muslims living together, going to concerts together, having a joint rock bands, play football together. 

That image of Srebrenica is never shown and it is its greatest wealth. We need to spread the message - if we can live together here, then it is possible everywhere in the world", concludes Irvin Mujcic.

(Telegraf.co.uk / source: dw:com)