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POTOČARI, July 11 (FENA) - Today we are here in Potočari to honor the remains of nine innocent victims, some of whom were young men, killed just because they belonged to one nation because they were Bosniaks, said Chairman of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina Šefik Džaferović on the occasion of marking of the 25th anniversary of Srebrenica genocide.
He said that he is here to extend his condolences to the families and to pay respect to all the victims of Srebrenica genocide, but also to remind that more than 1.000 people whose bodies had been moved to mass graves to cover up crime had not yet been found.
Džaferović pointed out that he is marking the 25th anniversary of the genocide against Bosniaks in the "UN Safe Area Srebrenica" in special circumstances due to coronavirus pandemic, and added that this did not prevent from marking that saddest anniversary in the history of our people here in Bosnia and Herzegovina and around the world.
“And nothing will ever stop us from doing so. It is our obligation to remember, to preserve the truth about genocide and to warn. That is our duty,” said Džaferović.
He added that everything is known about the genocide against Bosniaks in Srebrenica and that the truth is clear and complete, and it is confirmed by the final verdicts of international and domestic courts.
“It is clear from these verdicts that the genocide in Srebrenica was a planned and systematically committed crime by Karadžić's and Mladić's death squads, the Army and Police of Republika Srpska, assisted by units from Serbia, with the aim of completely erasing the existence of one people in this area. Serbia and its then regime were declared responsible because they could but did not prevent genocide,” Džaferović believes.
He emphasized that the genocide, which took place in front of the eyes of the whole world, could, but unfortunately was not prevented by the then world leaders, including the United Nations. Despite the resolution declaring Srebrenica a "UN safe area" the brutal liquidations of innocent men, children, women, pregnant women, the elderly did not stop.
“The result of the absence of concrete action to stop the ideology of evil and murderers are these white tombstones here in Potočari. They will forever be a warning to humanity that there must be no calculations in opposing evil,” said Džaferović.
He pointed out that UN officials admitted that Srebrenica would forever remain a black stain on the conscience of all those who could but did not prevent the genocide.
Džaferović stressed that the anniversary of Srebrenica genocide is now being marked around the world.
“At the same time, I take this opportunity to warn all our friends around the world to show that they do not accept attempts to deny genocide and celebrate and glorify the organizers and perpetrators of this terrible crime. Unfortunately, we are witnessing that,” Džaferović emphasized.
Instead of expected catharsis, confession of genocide, apology, arrest and prosecution of numerous direct perpetrators who are still at large, Džaferović claims that all of us witness today attempts to deny genocide the same way it was committed.
He believes that it is high time for the international community to immediately impose a law on banning genocide denial.
“The issue of banning genocide denial is a civilizational issue and does not concern only Srebrenica, Bosniaks and Bosnia and Herzegovina, but the whole world. It is a universal issue of the battle between good and evil,” Džaferović pointed out.
He reminded that in recent years, the words truth and justice have been uttered many times from this place, as well as in other places.
“These are not just ordinary words, this is also our message. Acceptance of truth and fair punishment of perpetrators of genocide, as well as perpetrators of other crimes, wherever they are committed and whoever committed them, is the first and basic precondition for restoring trust in this area,” said Džaferović.
He said that there can be no trust while attacks on truth, denial of genocide and glorification, celebration and rewarding of perpetrators continue.
“We have always lived together in this area. And we should continue to live together. We will remember our pain, our sorrow, our misfortune and our sufferings and live with them, but we are obliged to think about the present and the future,” Džaferović stated.
He pointed out that there is a special obligation towards Srebrenica and the entire Podrinje, which must be places of sustainable return, where people will live peacefully from their work.
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