Bosnian Muslims pay tribute to Srebrenica victims

The US House of Representatives passed a resolution marking the 20th anniversary of the Srebrenica massacre on Wednesday, in which more than 8,000 Muslim men and boys were mass murdered by Bosnian Serb forces on July 11, 1995. “The world – and especially Serbia – will have to face the truth sooner or later”, he said.

As we reflect on the Srebrenica genocide, we honor the memory of the victims by reaffirming our resolve to ensure such tragedies can not happen again.

But Serbia has been upset with the British attempt to have the UN Security Council pass a resolution saying recognition of genocide “is a prerequisite for reconciliation”.

“We (people of Srebrenica) become visible only in July”, said the town’s mayor Camil Durakovic, himself a Muslim.

Yet Russia’s United Nations Ambassador Vitaly Churkin objected to focusing only on Srebrenica, calling the resolution “confrontational and politically motivated”.

Ivan Jakocevic previously stressed that the resolution was not directed against Serbia and the Serb people but was aimed at ensuring that such a crime is not repeated, and noted that everyone committed crimes in the war, including his country, Croatia.

“So it is of profound regret that Russian Federation has chosen to side with those who, by their actions, are preventing reconciliation moving forwards; those who are unwilling to accept the facts today, ” he added.

After the massacre, Albright waved satellite photos of mass graves in Bosnia at the United Nations Security Council.

David Cameron will announce that his government will spend an extra £1.2m on the commemoration of the 1995 Srebrenica massacre to ensure “the events of that day are not forgotten”.

Germany on Thursday urged Bosnia to work towards a future in which a “genocide” such as the massacre of Muslims 20 years ago would no longer be possible, AFP reports.

When the then UN-protected enclave of Srebrenica was captured by Bosnian Serb forces her family did not know where to go. “That is why the Serbian government tonight decided that as prime minister, I would represent the Republic of Serbia in Srebrenica on July 11”. So far, Mr. Erdemovic is the only foot soldier to plead guilty for his action at the Yugoslavia war crimes tribunal here. “But that position is at odds with the opinions of most of the world, as witnessed by Monday’s memorial ceremony in London for the Srebrenica dead”.

The killings have been declared genocide by two global courts, but Bosnian Serb and Serbian political leaders still refuse to label it as such. “It was also about acknowledging the urgent need to provide justice to the victims and long-term support to survivors, including of sexual violence, and clarifying the fate and whereabouts of the over 8,000 still missing from the war”.