February 19, 1996
Web posted at: 12:45 p.m. EST (1745 GMT)
From Correspondent Brent Sadler
SARAJEVO, Bosnia-Herzegovina (CNN) -- On the main road heading west out of Sarajevo, Bosnian Serbs exercise their relatively new-found rights to freedom of movement.
The travelers amble down the road, stopping at will and walking at their own pace, as if on a leisurely stroll. Still others move at a more rapid pace. Some of the walkers carry suitcases.
Most travelers are journeying from the Muslim-led government side of the city to Ilidza, a Serb-held suburb.
A short while ago, such journeys would not have been possible, as the battle in Sarajevo ravaged the area. But little by little, the obstacles of war are tumbling down.
For many, the journey is a long walk and, like 74-year-old Danicic Rade, it's a leap into the unknown.
"It's human nature to hope for the best, for a better future, so I hope Dayton works,"
-- Danicic Rade, 74, a Bosnian Serb
Rade, a Bosnian Serb, moves at a steady pace en route to Ilidza. It's the first time in more than four years he's entered the suburb, and this time he's searching for family members living there.
"I can't express my feelings. They're deep inside me. This is my first time to the other side," Rade said.
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| Rade crosses the lines to Ilidza | |
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and is reunited with family members |
On arriving in Ilidza, Rade is puzzled about his family's whereabouts. But after asking neighbors, he finds his bearings and discovers his family is nearby.
On the third floor of an apartment building, he greets his family. His search is rewarded with a loving embrace -- the first of many tearful reunions.
On the floor above, Rade finds his brother-in-law, who is shaken with emotion.
The Dayton peace accord has re-united them.
In an emergency summit to keep the Dayton peace accord intact, international negotiators and Balkan leaders agreed over the weekend to supplement the peace deal, allowing the Serbs in Sarajevo suburbs to participate in local government and in the local police force.
Sarajevo's freedom of movement is viewed as a blessing and a curse -- opening the way to reunification of the capital under Muslim control. Supporters are relieved, while opponents despair.
And regardless of international calls to stay, Bosnian Serbs continue to leave their districts.
"We used to be able to live with them, but not any more. We must leave," said one Serb.
And for Danicic Rade, the comfort of reuniting with his family has a painful twist: as Serbs they will not stay in Ilidza.
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