On April 6, 1992, the international community recognized the independence of Bosnia and Herzegovina and provoked the anger of the Serbian forces who began to bombard the city from the mountains around…

SOUND ARCHIVES

April 6, 1992: Beginning of the siege of Sarajevo

The city of Sarajevo in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Text by: Nenad Tomic

4 mins

For the next three years, Sarajevo was besieged and almost impossible to leave: food was scarce, heating and vital supplies impossible to find.

The victims are numerous.

The whole country is in the throes of fierce fighting.

RFI's sound archives offer a series of reports and sounds broadcast when the civil war ravaged Bosnia-Herzegovina and its capital Sarajevo, thirty years ago.

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F. Mitterrand: surprise visit to Sarajevo

[28/06/1992] Surprise visit by François Mitterrand to Sarajevo, capital of Bosnia-Herzegovina.

This trip, which surprised everyone, comes the day after an EEC summit in Lisbon where Europe, for the first time, considered military action in this country at war.

As soon as he arrived, François Mitterrand described the city in ruins.

According to him, humanitarian action is essential and urgent.

S. Milosevic: the conflict in Bosnia is tragic

[30/05/1992] As the fighting in Bosnia intensifies, Slobodan Milosevic, President of Serbia, in an interview on the war ravaging the neighboring country:

"What is happening in Bosnia is tragic, especially for the inhabitants.
It is not in my power to stop the fighting…”

E.Wiesel: Sarajevo/conflict

[29/11/1992] Elie Wiesel, Nobel Peace Prize 1986, is visiting Sarajevo.

He notes:

“It is a cemetery city… Sounds of fury and hatred from all sides…”

Report by C.Bader in Bosnia: refugees, the Red Cross

[28/04/1993] In April 1993, the Bosnian Serbs refused the Vance-Owen peace plan, the international embargo against Serbia intensified and the international community sought new methods to stop this pitiless spiral in which returned to Bosnia.

By following the Red Cross in the Bosnian province, RFI was able to discover villages where no Western journalist could go to testify.

A report by Carmen Bader, where the images are strong, lived.

Report: testimonies on life in Sarajevo

[28/02/1994] In Sarajevo, capital of Bosnia-Herzegovina, besieged for two years, the population lives under the terror of shellfire and snipers.

For its 380,000 inhabitants, trapped, daily life is difficult and the future uncertain.

But for 2 weeks, the fighting has stopped and the inhabitants are venturing out to find food.

A report in Sarajevo by Laurent Coulon.

Sarajevo Correspondence: The Market Massacre

[05/02/1994]

“
A shell was launched in the crowded market of Sarajevo;
over 150 people are down.
All hospitals in the city are mobilized.
The carnage is unprecedented in this war that has been going on for two years in Sarajevo…”

A report from Sarajevo by Rémy Ourdan.

Testimony of Boba, resident of Sarajevo, after 1000 days of war

[30/12/1994] After 1000 days of war, a ceasefire in Sarajevo has been respected for a few days.

Boba, a resident of Sarajevo, testifies:

“I am happy to no longer see bloodstains on the snow…”

Decryption: Sarajevo martyr city, symbol of the return of barbarism

[24/09/1995] The city of Sarajevo has always been the symbol of multicultural and multiethnic life.

But the capital of Bosnia experienced very painful episodes during the 20th century, making it a martyr city.

By Any Bourrier.

J.Chirac: rejects excessive violence in Bosnia

[17/06/1995] Jacques Chirac, President of the French Republic, speaks in an interview on the war in Bosnia:

“
I condemn any offensive whatsoever in Bosnia.
I am neither anti nor pro-nobody.
I am for the restoration of peace…”

Testimony: R.Hourdan on the bombardment in Sarajevo

[28/08/1995] Rémy Ourdan, local correspondent in Sarajevo for RTL and Le Monde, recounts the scenes of horror and panic during the last bombardment in Sarajevo:

" 
For the first time, people are refusing to testify, weary , accusing blue helmets, journalists, Westerners of being useless…”

Decryption: Ceasefire in Bosnia

[10/10/1995] The latest ceasefire seems to keep the belligerents' promises.

Everyone hopes that there will be lasting peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

By Catherine Framery.

Decryption: The peace agreements in Bosnia

[22/11/1995] After four years of war, Bosnia and Herzegovina is moving towards peace after the negotiations carried out in Dayton in the United States.

April 6, 1992: Beginning of the siege of Sarajevo

April 6, 1992: Beginning of the siege of Sarajevo

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