After Fifteen Years, the Center for Balkan Development Closes Its Doors

May 10, 2009

Dear Friends:

Since 1994, the Center for Balkan Development (formerly Friends of Bosnia), has been a leading international force for justice, aid, resolution, and development in the countries of the former Yugoslavia. While our focus has often been on Bosnia, the country to have suffered the most since the wars of Yugoslav succession began in 1991, we are proud of the impact we have had in other parts of the region, including Kosovo.

We have been able to continue our work over the last 15 years because of the tremendous support we have received from donors, colleagues, and friends from all over the world. I want to say a deep and heartfelt thank you for all the support you have given and the commitment you have shown to help improve the lives of people who have suffered so much during and after the wars.

While the need in the region is still great, funding for activities like those at the heart of CBD’s work has been increasingly scarce. As a result, the Board of Directors of the Center for Balkan Development (myself included) has unanimously decided that the resources available to continue this work cannot sustain a level of work that justifies the ongoing support of our most committed donors. We have therefore decided to discontinue our operations on June 30, 2009—the end of our fiscal year.

I wish I could be saying that our work is complete and that the former Yugoslavia is now a region of lasting peace and prosperity. Aside from the fact that I could not say that about any place in the world, it is particularly true that Bosnia, Serbia, Kosovo, Croatia, Montenegro, and Macedonia all hang on a very delicate thread. Many core issues of nationalistic politics that originally flamed the wars still exist. New issues such as narcotics and human trafficking make the current situation particularly volatile. Most of the region has a much lower general standard of living now than before the wars, and the prospects for meaningful employment throughout the region are difficult at best.

The burden of addressing and improving this situation has rightly shifted to those people and organizations that are based in, or are from, the region. There are many capable diaspora groups around the world that are creating effective change and, most importantly, there are many capable groups in the region that are carrying on this work. We at CBD are proud to have worked with and supported many of these groups over the years.

There is one group of people I especially want to acknowledge—those individuals who, during the tough years of 1992-1995, made great personal and professional sacrifices to do what was possible in stopping the genocide in Bosnia. Some of those individuals eventually became committed Board members of CBD. Many went on to focus on other areas of the world that were suffering as much or more than Bosnia suffered during those dark years. And many rightly returned to their families, jobs, and avocations that were much neglected during these years.

I believe that our work was, and continues to be, important and necessary. What was unique about CBD was that it was truly an expression of citizen activism. In a nod to Margaret Mead, we began as a small group of committed people who changed the world. We are proof that people of all walks of life — from all professions, means, and education — can come together and challenge head-on the most significant events facing the world. I hope we have inspired others to do the same.

While it will not happen before we close our doors, I do hope that one day we can write a definitive chronicle of what we have accomplished with your support and recognize personally those individuals who have given so much.

There are far too many people whom I would like to thank and acknowledge individually, but I could not possibly do it in this brief letter. I would, however, like to acknowledge and extend my deep gratitude to all the Board members who have served since we started. And I would like to thank Ria Kulenovic, CBD Executive Director, who served from 2006-2009.

In closing, I want to say that it has been a tremendous privilege to have been in this position. My commitment to lasting peace and justice is as great today as it was in 1994, and I can only hope that in the next fifteen years I can contribute toward accomplishing just a fraction of what we have done in the last fifteen years.

With warmest and everlasting regards,

Glenn Ruga
President