Easter Greetings from Pakrac

Call Number
350-1-1:85/10

General information

Call No.:
350-1-1:85/10
Part of series
HU OSA 350-1-1 Records of the International Monitor Institute: Europe: Balkan Archive
Located at
VHS PAL #85 / No. 10
Digital ver. identifier
HU_OSA_00000085
Original Title
Ostergrusse aus Pakrac
Date of air
1993-04-06
Date
1993
Level
Item
Primary Type
Moving image
Language
German

Content

Form/Genre
Documentary film
Contents Summary
This report outlines the efforts to rebuild the town of Pakrac after the end of the war in Croatia. Pakrac's ethnic composition of Serbs and Croats is outlined, citing how UN officials managed to establish a dialogue between both sides, allowing for some 4,000 refugees to return to their homes. UN Project Leader Dr. Michael Platzer is interviewed about the project, and he emphasizes that mutual distrust must be done away with. He also asserts the UN's readiness to assist local people in rebuilding their homes, and claims that all that is needed is a firm political agreement allowing refugees to return. The report explains that during the war, Croat forces managed to ethnically cleanse 170 Serb villages in Western Slavonija. In his interview, Veljko Dzakula, of the Serbian Regional Counsel, explains that the primary goal is for all people to be able to return to their homes. He further states that war criminals need to be removed from Pakrac and West Slavonija in general; and, finally, that a political dialogue needs to be established between all the people living in Pakrac. However, he states, this dialogue must happen outside of the state because there have been no guarantees that Serbs can live safely in Croatia. The report then shows a wedding of Serbs guest workers in Pakrac. Next interviewed is Franjo Sirac, Croat vice-mayor of Pakrac, who explains that Pakrac was a cultural center before the war, and that during the war 90% of the infrastructure was destroyed. He states that it was destroyed by the Serb army who wanted Pakrac to be the capital of the Western Krajina. The report gives a detailed analysis of all the reconstruction going on in Pakrac. As stated in the report, few civilians have the finances necessary to rebuild their homes; the reconstruction of public buildings, such as the local fire station, middle school, and train station is financially backed by the UN. One of the construction foremen interviewed outlines the locals' goal rebuilding every building in Pakrac, but that the priority is to rebuild schools, nurseries, and the hospital. The report states that reconstruction of the town would be significantly faster if more financial backing was available. Other footage included: destroyed houses and public buildings in Pakrac, pictures of the residents, destroyed hospital rooms, people stacking building blocks, and a destroyed apartment building.

Context

Associated Names
ORF (Copyright holder, Producer)