History education in the region is characterized by ethnocentrism, with the 90s being covered minimally and selectively. This is due to political elites leveraging history for manipulation, as illustrated by various instances of unscientific historical revisionism.

This statement was made at the opening of the international conference titled “Borders in Southeast Europe: Geography or Imagination?”, which concludes tonight.

During the conference’s opening, it was highlighted that the ongoing war in Ukraine has provoked conversations regarding international principles of territorial integrity, with noticeable implications for Southeast Europe.

Montenegro’s Chief Negotiator with the European Union (EU), Predrag Zenović, addressed the Joint History Books project, which advocates for a multi-perspective approach to history education through six volumes detailing the period from the Ottoman Empire to 2008. He emphasized that the conference initiates discussions on topics that are not only essential to academic research but are also critical for fostering sustainable peace and democratic culture in the region’s countries.

He stated that education, particularly in history, plays a pivotal role in this endeavor.

“Initiatives like the regional shared history project, which has already published six volumes, serve as a significant contribution to developing critical thinking and enhancing our ability to confront the past,” noted Zenović.

He added that these manuals promote a multi-perspective approach, aimed not at revisionism, but at facilitating deeper understanding and insights.

“These textbooks illustrate this principle, as history must be anchored in facts; only with this foundation can we formulate legitimate and morally sustainable conclusions,” Zenović stated.

He highlighted the Franco-German reconciliation as a profound European example of this process, where two formerly hostile nations made a conscious decision to cultivate a shared European vision.

“That endeavor illustrates a framework for reconciliation drawn from European practices,” Zenović remarked.

In discussing borders, he raised a critical question: are these divisions merely political and ideological, or do they reflect a deeper narrative?

“Borders that separate memories can often be more enduring than physical barriers. Our challenge is not only to traverse geographic lines but to dismantle mental and symbolic divides,” stated Zenović.

German Ambassador to Montenegro Peter Felten acknowledged that over the past three years, he has witnessed how inadequate agreements in the region and a lack of consensus regarding past events hinder cooperation and mutual understanding.

“Thus, the efforts and outcomes achieved through these six volumes are of extraordinary significance,” Felten asserted.

He also recounted experiences with the politicization of history, including misinterpretations of historical events and a denial of responsibility.

Felten observed that in some Western Balkan schools, recent historical topics are often avoided, leading to increasingly toxic discussions surrounding identity, religion, and belonging.

“The most effective remedy for this issue would be to collectively confront and acknowledge significant historical facts, rather than engage in disputes over these facts, but rather to shift the dialogue towards interpreting those established facts,” Felten advised.

He emphasized that reconciliation cannot be achieved without prior agreements on recognized historical facts.

Felten mentioned that reconciliation is one of the fundamental paths of the Berlin Process, initiated by former German Chancellor Angela Merkel, continued by Olaf Scholz, and now carried on by Friedrich Merz.

“The Berlin Process has consistently advocated for regional integration, as well as a means for the region to prepare for EU accession,” he said.

When discussing borders, Felten remarked that logical border delineations in the region are virtually impossible; the aim should be to allow unhindered movement for the region’s citizens.

He expressed satisfaction that, even in times of reduced state funding, there remains the opportunity to support the Joint History Project.

Former Albanian Foreign Minister Ditmir Bushati stated that the Joint Historical Readers project transcends border discussions; it is about fostering collaboration to think critically and clearly about the future.

He noted a web of disputes that obstructs the ability of regional countries to progress more swiftly.

“We observe this intricate network of disputes originating from World War II, the disintegration of Yugoslavia, and border conflicts emerging from the formation of new states after the Iron Curtain’s fall,” Bushati stated.

He cited examples from the Visegrad Group countries, where EU accession transformed former adversaries into neighbors.

“In our case, such transformations have not yet materialized. I hope our collective efforts will contribute to this process,” Bushati added.

Executive Director of the European Fund for the Balkans, Aleksandra Tomanić, shared that when the project commenced, it became evident that the books needed to be accessible online.

She explained the necessity of creating a secure website, where the IP address is altered every 15 minutes to prevent hacking.

According to Tomanić, this technical preparedness is crucial when approaching history from various perspectives.

“With a constructive mindset and genuine political will, the historical challenges in the region could be addressed,” Tomanić concluded.

She expressed gratitude to the German Foreign Ministry for its support of the initiative.

Kristina Koulouri, the editor of the JHP project and rector of the Panteon University of Social and Political Sciences, conveyed that the project initiated in the late 90s by businessmen committed to peaceful regional development has successfully persisted until 2020 and was revived in 2022.

“After all these years, I believe this project serves as a success narrative, deserving a renewed chance and inspiring younger colleagues eager to continue our mission,” Koulouri remarked.

She highlighted that over 100 historians from 13 Southeast European countries collaborated to launch the JHP.

“Six textbooks were created to promote reconciliation in the region; although regionally focused, this is a distinctive project,” Koulouri added, noting that the JHP can serve as a model for education in post-conflict societies.

She mentioned that these texts have been translated into Japanese, serving as a reference model there.

According to Koulouri, the JHP has established an essential legacy, a foundation for future endeavors.

She explained that borders were selected as a focal topic for the second version of JHP due to their significance in identity formation.

“To comprehend borders, one must also understand population movements and transitions in various locales. It is crucial to view the history of borders alongside the history of the state,” Koulouri emphasized.

She noted that prior to the 18th century, borders were not linear but depended on natural features, leading to the concept of non-territorial integrity. Thus, caution is necessary when discussing borders and identities.

Addressing education, Koulouri remarked that it yields long-term results rather than immediate change; patience is essential for instigating transformation through education.

“We are here to continue an effort that will be vital as long as nationalism persists,” Koulouri concluded.

Zvezdana Kovač, head of the JHP, explained that the project produced six volumes covering the period from the Ottoman Empire to 2008, collaboratively created by historians across all Southeast European nations.

She regards it as one of the largest civil society initiatives, with dozens of historians from 13 countries agreeing on the content of the texts, which have been translated into 11 languages.

These editions include one in Montenegrin, available at: www.jointhistory.net.

Kovač expressed gratitude to the German Foreign Ministry and the European Fund for the Balkans for their support in making this project (JHP 2.0) possible, along with the Center for Civic Education for assisting in organizing the conference.

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