The Association of writers of BH titled The Writers' Association was established on September 8, 1945 when the inaugural assembly was held and menagement of the Association was chosen consisting of: Marko Markovic, president, Isak Samokovlija, vice-president, Skender Kulenovic, secretary and Emil Petrovic, treasurer.

Nika Milićević, Rizo Ramić, Ilija Kecmanović i Miroslav Feldman were chosen in a Court of Honour. Under a title mentioned above this Association was operating until 19927 93 as a complex organized structure comprised of branch-offices in Sarajevo, Mostar, Tuzla, Banja Luka, Zenica and Bihac. Since its start up to present days this unique association of BH writers was and has remained permanently of multi-national character according to its commitment, conception and acting. The Association changed its name twice owing to the war situation in 1992.

Then a group of 35 writers of different nationalities, members of earlier Writers' Society of SRBH, started work of the association of writers on May 17, 1993 under title Writers' Association of the Republic of BH which actively operated during the war period in BH and besieged Sarajevo. Members of Writers' Association of RBH proudly and in a representative way presented their literary opus and Bosnia and Herzegovina in the best way spreading a part of the truth about real causes and events in those hard times and in the same time wanted to prove that basic principles of multi-nationality and democracy were not destroyed.

After establishment of the new constitutional and legal system in BH in accordance with new adopted laws and sub-law documents, a name of the association was pre-registered in 2002 and got a name of Writers' Association in BH and it is operating now under that title. In this way, a continuity of the work and acting of this significant and unique association of writers was being held. Since 1993 up to now the following writers have been chosen in the Board:

Nedzad Ibrisimovic, president, Mirko Marjanovic, vice-president, Nenad Radanovic, vice-president, Zlatko Topcic, secretary general and members: Radovan Marusic, Bisera Alikadic, Nikola Krstic, Dragoslav Janjic, Ivan Kordic, Abdulah Sidran and Miro Petrovic. Since 2002 there have been chosen: Abdulah Sidran, president, members of the Board Miro Petrovic, Jasmina Musabegovic, Zeljko Grahovac, Atif Kujundzic, Sead Trhulj, Amir Brka, Hadzem Hajdarevic and Gradimir Gojer while Muhamed Curovac was secretary general. Writers' Association in BH currently counts 154 regular members while its honorary members are: Vclav Havel, Boris A. Novak, Mirko Kovac and Predrag Matvejevic.

Beside literary programes which are organized by the Association, representatives of the Association take part in various writers' international gatherings and literary manifestations.

The Association is a starter and organizer of the most important literary manifestation in BH called: "Sarajevo Poetry Days" which started in 1962. Its establishes and starters, among the others were: Izet Sarajlic, Ahmet Hromadzic, Velimir Milosevic, Vladimir Cerkez and so on. Within a framework of the Sarajevo Poetry Days since 1999 there has been established an award/recognition "Bosnian Standing Tomb-Stone" awarded to a distinguished foreign or domestic poet for their author's commitment and literary esthetic and ethic principles. So they are workers of poetic public word where in the best way can be gained characteristics of a great writer, sharp thinker, humanis, responsible intellectual in the time we live in.

Past winners of the "Bosnian Standing Tomb-Stone" were: Juan Goytisolo (Spain, for 1999), Boris Novak (Slovenia for 2000), Christopher Merill (USA for 2002), Tadeusz Rozevicz (Poland for 2002), Mirko Kovac (Srbia, Croatia for 2003), Abdulah Sidran (BH for 2004), and Luka Paljetak (Croatia for 2005).

Since 1953 establishment till today the Association awards a traditional Annual award for the best book published in one publishing year. During the award ceremony there is organized a casual exhibition of newly issued books by members of the Writers' Association in BH and in a solemn way a winner is given a plaque and amount of 3.000,00 KM.

Writers' Association in BH issues quarterly magazine for literature called LIFE and a newspaper-sheet "Letter" as an addition to the Sarajevo daily newspaper DREAM.

Actual management of the Writers' Association in BH make: Gradimir Gojer, president, and members: Amir Brka, Hadzem Hajdarevic, Zlatko Topcic, Kristina Mrdja, Ibrahim Kajan, Josip Osti, Mile Stojic and Zilhad Kljucanin.

Secretary general of the Association is Muhamed Curovac and technical secretary is Majda Kovac. By the end of this year the Association will solemnly mark 60 years of the establishment of the first association in BH with various literary programes which will be held by the end of this year and during 2006.

(Text was prepared by Muhamed Curovac,

secretary general of the Writers' Association in BH)