Omerović: Srebrenica obliges us not to remain silent in the face of injustice, not to turn a blind eye to suffering...

The 30th anniversary of the Srebrenica genocide was marked in Bijelo Polje today with the laying of wreaths by delegations from the Bijelo Polje Municipality at the "Hour of Life" monument.

In addition to the President of the Assembly Selma Omerović, the Mayor of the Municipality Petar Smolović, representatives of political parties, the NGO sector and citizens of this northern municipality paid tribute to the victims.

Srebrenica obliges us not to remain silent in the face of injustice: Initiative launched to revoke Radovan Karadzic's "Risto Ratković" award

Omerović said that today marks 30 years since one of the darkest moments in contemporary European history, the genocide in Srebrenica that was committed against the innocent Bosniak population, and the same number of years of pain, sorrow and struggle for justice to be served.

She said that compassion for the victims of genocide and their families is an expression of respect for the innocent victims, but also an obligation arising from International Conventions and the Resolution on the Genocide in Srebrenica, which was voted on by the Parliament of Montenegro in 2021.

"Our gathering today is not to divide, but to remind ourselves of the value of every human life. Bijelo Polje is a city that has been a heritage of coexistence, diversity and mutual respect for decades. In a time when borders are often drawn with words, hatred and ignorance - it is our duty to be the ones who will overcome them with dialogue, empathy and truth. Srebrenica obliges us. It obliges us not to remain silent in the face of injustice. Not to turn a blind eye in the face of suffering. Not to forget the past, to cherish the truth, but to teach young generations about the importance of respecting human values," she said.

An initiative to revoke the "Risto Ratković" award from Radovan Karadžić was submitted to the Municipal Assembly

As Omerović reminded, the Municipal Assembly was recently submitted an initiative by the Municipal Board of the Bosniak Party in Bijelo Polje, as well as by non-governmental organizations and civic activists, which requests the withdrawal of the "Risto Ratković" award, awarded in 1993 to the war criminal convicted of genocide and war crimes, Radovan Karadžić.

"The awarding of this award has left a permanent stain on our city, which is recognized for its harmonious coexistence, multiculturalism and harmony between members of different religions and nations. Also, this initiative will be on the agenda of the first session of the Bijelo Polje Municipal Assembly. And knowing the councilors in the current convocation, I have no doubt that the decision made will be the most just and civilized for the entire society," said Omerović.

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.