Commission to Preserve National Monuments of Bosnia and Herzegovina


The Commission to Preserve National Monuments of Bosnia and Herzegovina,, is Bosnia and Herzegovina institution which declares and registers the national monuments, as sites, places, immovable and movable heritage of historical and cultural importance to Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The sites of exclusively natural heritage are not subject of Annex 8 and the Commission.

Establishment and legal scope

In accordance to Annex 8 of Dayton Agreement and Act concerning the Commission to Preserve National Monuments of Bosnia and Herzegovina passed by Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina at 119. session from December 21, 2001, where The Commission to Preserve National Monuments of Bosnia and Herzegovina is established pursuant to Annex 8 of the General Framework Agreement for Peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and basic principles and objectives of the Commission activities established, as well as its primary tasks and authorizations as Bosnia and Herzegovina institution.

Act was issued by Official Gazette of Bosnia and Herzegovina, No. 1/02 i 10/02., and Official Gazette of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina No. 2/02, 27/02 and 6/04/.
For declaration of the property to be the national monuments, property and political criterion are not of special importance. However, since 2016 three native members of the Commission are picked on the basis of their ethnicity , and regardless of their prior or current political engagements, which could prove to be controversial.

Regulation of conduct and procedures

Regulation of conduct and procedures in a framework of the Commission to Preserve National Monuments of Bosnia and Herzegovina are as stipulated in most recent Act of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, from May 26, 2016 - under principal provisions, methodology, procedures, cooperation with institutions and official bodies, transparency, and final articles.

Commissioners

At the 119th session held on 21 December 2001, elected members of the Commission for period 2002 to February 2016:
Members of the Commission since February 2016
The Secretariat is managed and organized by an Executive officer.

Executive officer

Secretariat of the Commission consists of:
The Commission to Preserve National Monuments declares legal protection of the property to be the national monument on the ground of criteria based on subject, scope and value of each property.

I. Subjects of legal protection

A. Portable cultural property

Portable cultural property, individual or in collections, classified as follows:
1. Historic buildings and monuments
Groups of buildings which are either part of a composition with a certain purpose or an agglomeration which is the result of continuous building in a historic core.

A. Time frame

Properties arisen from the prehistoric times until the end of the 20th century.

B. Historic value

Association of a building, or group or place to a historic figure in the history or a significant event in the history.

C. Artistic and aesthetic value

i. Quality of workmanship,
ii. Quality of material,
iii. Proportions,
iv. Composition,
v. Value of a detail,
vi. Structural value.

D. Clarity

Documentary, scientific and educational or pedagogic value.
i. Material evidence about less known historic era,
ii. Evidence of historic changes,
iii. Work of a famous artist or builder,
iv. Evidence of certain type, style or regional manner,
v. Evidence of a typical lifestyle in the certain era.

E. Symbolic value

i. Ontology value,
ii. Sacral value,
iii. Traditional value,
iv. Relation to the rituals or traditions,
v. Significance for the identity of a group of people.

F. Townscape/Landscape value

i. Relation of the form in the comparison with other parts of the group,
ii. Meaning in the townscape,
iii. A building or a group of buildings is a part of a group or site.

G. Authenticity

i. Form and design,
ii. Materials and substance,
iii. Use and function,
iv. Traditions and techniques,
v. Location and setting,
vi. Spirit and feeling, and
vii. Other internal and external factors.

H. Uniqueness/rarity

i. The single or rare example of an object type or style,
ii. A masterpiece of workmanship or course,
iii. Work of a prominent artist/ architect, craftsman.

I. Integrity (groups, sites, collections)

i. Material wholeness,
ii. Homogeneity,
iii. Completeness,
iv. Unimpaired condition.

Official Gazette

Act was issued by Official Gazette of Bosnia and Herzegovina, No. 1/02 i 10/02., and Official Gazette of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina No. 2/02, 27/02 and 6/04/. All later acts and decisions are consequently published also.


Criteria are published in the Official Gazette of BiH and the Official Gazettes of both Entities of Bosnia and Herzegovina and of Brčko District of Bosnia and Herzegovina.