The commemoration marking the 30th anniversary of the Srebrenica genocide has concluded at the Srebrenica Memorial Center, where domestic and foreign officials addressed the event in person or via messages.
The last speaker at the commemoration was Bosniak member of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), Denis Bećirović, who said that, as long as human civilization exists, July 11 will be the International Day of Remembrance of the Srebrenica Genocide.
The message read by Italian President Sergio Mattarella stated that the "sad lesson" from Srebrenica encourages a shared duty to prevent and combat such crimes and to resolutely condemn any form of revisionism.
"It would be wrong to attribute the burden of shame to entire nations. What is needed is to insist on rigorous justice, which will lay the foundations for reconciliation," Mattarella stressed.
He added that, precisely in this spirit, the UN General Assembly in May last year declared July 11th the International Day of Remembrance of the Srebrenica Genocide in order to "preserve the memory of the tragic events."
The Italian President emphasized that BiH will always have the support of his country.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan also addressed the nation in a video message, stating that the fact that the international community failed to stop the genocide against Bosniaks in Srebrenica "will be remembered as a shame."
He stated that the essence of Turkey's call for reform of the United Nations (UN) is "in the fight against the consciousness embodied in the saying: 'May the snake that does not bite me live a thousand years'".
"In this struggle, the words of the late (Bosniak leader) Alija Izetbegović continue to light our path: 'Whatever you do, do not forget the genocide, because a genocide that is forgotten will be repeated,'" Erdogan said.
He added that the adoption of the Resolution on Srebrenica at the UN represents a strong reflection of the will to fight genocide.
"What is happening in Gaza is proof that the international community has not drawn the necessary messages from Srebrenica," Erdogan said, adding that the Israeli government will sooner or later be held accountable before the law and history.
Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković said in a speech that Srebrenica is "more than a tragedy" and "a symbol of warning."
He added that Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia "were victims of the aggression of the Milosevic regime" - the former president of Serbia.
"Like you in Srebrenica, we are still searching for our missing... In Srebrenica, evil reached its ultimate, genocidal form. The international community has also failed here," Plenković stressed.
In speeches at the commemoration, many officials pointed to the responsibility of Europe and the world for not preventing the genocide in Srebrenica.
After the commemoration, a religious ceremony and burial of the seven newly identified Srebrenica victims took place at the Memorial Center.
Today is a Day of Mourning in the Federation of BiH, and no officials or politicians from Republika Srpska are attending the commemoration marking the 30th anniversary of the Srebrenica genocide.
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