ARHIVSKI VJESNIK 37. (ZAGREB, 1994.)

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M. Pandžić, Some experiences and problems... Arh. vjesn., god. 37(1994) str. 69-78 It was generally accepted that action on the provision of disaster control advice should be taken in collaboration with ICA, IFLA and UNESCO. It is clear that there are many concerns in common with ICA and IFLA, and, while prevention measures would be very similar for archival material as well as for libraries, reaction and recovery techniques could differ. The Committee's objective was defined as planning counter measures for "natural and man-made disasters, including armed conflict". Disaster itself was defined as "an event whose timing is unexpected and whose consequences are seriously destructive". Causes of such disaster were identified as: "fire, flood, earthquake, tsunami, tidal wave, hurricane, landslip, adverse weather, explosion, building design, armed conflict, electromagnetic forces, electronic sabotage". Although these are mainly natural events, disasters often result from the mistakes of mankind and are therefore preventable. Armed conflict was identified as a threat causing particular concern and the cause of many incidents of heavy loss of national heritage material. This concern was the reason for a statement made by the committee concerning the particular risk to many archives. The Committee stated that "an attempt to destroy cultural identity through the destruction of cultural property should be condemned. The Committee urges the ICA Executive to act with UNESCO and other international organizations to provide protection through the condemnation of such acts, and for action against those guilty of the deliberate action of cultural and historical property". Some actual experiences and problems concerning disaster prevention with a special regard in case of armed conflict or war Although we are dealing generally with all natural and man-made disasters, after the publications of an excellent RAMP Study written by S. Buchanan ("Disaster planning; preparedness and recovery for libraries and archives", Paris 1988, PGI-88/WS/6), it is intended to focus more on disaster prevention including damage and loss of archival and library materials, resulting from armed conflict, presently highlighted by current events in parts of the world and some recent events and experiences in Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. 1. After World War II, and especially in the last few years, armed conflicts has threatened cultural materials of many nations in the world. Those responsible for the organisation, care and preservation of record repositories have special concern for archives as a literary heritage and a memory of mankind. In some conflicts - as in the Republic of Croatia and even more in Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina - there are many examples of cultural institutions, sacred objects, monuments, archives and libraries being destroyed on purpose to apply sophisticated "ethnical cleansing" and psychological pressure against an "enemy nation". This deliberate targeting is of special concern. 2. Although international legislation system exists in the form of treaties (the most important are 3 Conventions, Hague 1954, Paris 1970 and 1972), and is generally 71