Zeković: Young people need to be helped to understand genocide and the role of nationalist policies and motives

Young people in particular need to be helped to understand the genocide and the role of nationalist policies and motives that are unfortunately still present today, carrying deadly threats, Aleksandar Saša Zeković, a member of the Civic Initiative (GI) "21 May" and a remembrance activist, announced today.

"At the Monument dedicated to all civilian victims of the wars in the former Yugoslavia from 1991 to 2001, in Pobrežje, in Podgorica, I paid tribute to the victims of the genocide in Srebrenica. Also, in the Church of St. George in Podgorica, I lit a candle for the repose of the souls of all victims of the genocide," Zeković said in a statement.

He added that Srebrenica Remembrance Day was established to commemorate the 1995 genocide.

"The areas of the former Yugoslavia, due to the traumatic consequences of different ideologies and grandiose nationalisms, have been forced to be obsessed with memories. The initiative to establish a Day of Remembrance for the Srebrenica Genocide in Montenegro was sent back in June 2005 to the then Prime Minister Milo Đukanović. Despite progress in the process of dealing with the past, the current authorities have still not established a national day of remembrance. It is important that the official delegation of the Government of Montenegro, of mixed ethnic composition, is present at the Memorial Center in Srebrenica. This is a strong message for post-genocide policies and against genocide denial. However, for decades we have been indicating that the focus of officials' attention should not be on commemorative activities outside Montenegro," said Zeković.

He said that, in accordance with the resolutions of the Parliament of Montenegro and the United Nations, the mobilization of memorialization in our society is important.

"Young people in particular need to be helped to understand genocide and the role of nationalist policies and motives that are unfortunately still present today, carrying deadly threats. Remembering the victims is an opportunity to point out the importance and necessity of repentance. Convicted general of the Army of Republika Srpska Radislav Krstić publicly repented. In admitting his responsibility for genocide, General Krstić specifically addressed young people from the former SFRY, calling on them to make the environment in which they live better," said Zeković.

The 30th anniversary of the genocide against Bosniaks committed by Serbian forces in Bosnia and Herzegovina in July 1995 will be marked today at the Srebrenica - Potočari Memorial Center.

The remains of seven more Srebrenica victims, who were found in different locations, will be buried in Potočari today. The youngest victims to be buried are two young men who were 19 years old.

Leaders of numerous countries have announced that they will be in Potočari today, and Sarajevo media report that 150.000 people could attend the commemoration.

In May last year, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution declaring July 11th as the International Day of Remembrance of the Srebrenica Genocide, and condemning the denial of the genocide and the glorification of war criminals.

After entering Srebrenica, then a United Nations safe zone, forces led by the commander of the Army of Republika Srpska, Ratko Mladić, killed more than 1995 people, mostly men and boys, in July 8.000.

According to data from the Srebrenica - Potočari Memorial Center, at least 8.372 people were killed in and around Srebrenica, including women, girls and the elderly.

The Srebrenica genocide has been legally confirmed by the judgments of the International Court of Justice, the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (The Hague Tribunal), and the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

So far, 1995 people have been sentenced to a total of 54 years in prison for genocide, crimes against humanity and other crimes committed in Srebrenica in July 781.

Five people were sentenced to life imprisonment, including former Republika Srpska President Radovan Karadžić, wartime commander of the Army of Republika Srpska Ratko Mladić, and three other high-ranking officers of the Army of Republika Srpska.

The International Court of Justice in The Hague ruled in 2007 that the Army of Republika Srpska committed genocide in Srebrenica. The same court held Serbia responsible for failing to prevent the Srebrenica genocide.

Despite court rulings, Serbian political elites in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia have to date not shown a willingness to face the past and acknowledge that genocide was committed in Srebrenica.

On the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the genocide, the Srebrenica - Potočari Memorial Center pointed out that institutional discrimination against Bosniaks, denial of genocide, and glorification of war criminals are still present in the Republika Srpska.