Commemoration of Srebrenica Genocide Held in Potocari

Potocari (BETAPHOTO/HINA/FENA/Amer Kajmovic)

A commemoration of the victims of the Srebrenica genocide, which the Serb forces committed in 1995, began on July 11 with the playing of the national anthem of Bosnia and Herzegovina in the former batter factory in Potocari.

The event was attended by members of the families of the Srebrenica victims, a large number of citizens, officials of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Bosnia and Herzegovina, representatives of diplomatic corps in Bosnia and Herzegovina, international officials, and representatives of the neighboring countries, but no high official of Republika Srpska (RS).

RS Vice President Camil Durakovic said that the current situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina was very difficult due to irresponsible politicians, adding that the genocide was still being denied, which was an insult to the victims and their families.

High Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina Christian Schmidt said in Potocari that he would be working on establishing regulations relating to criminal offense register, adding that he had concrete measures for those who had committed the genocide, but also for the genocide victims.

The managing director for Europe and Central Asia at the European External Action Service (EEAS), Angelina Eichhorst, said she had arrived in Potocari to pay tribute to the victims of genocide on behalf of the EU and in her own name. She called on all who still denied the genocide and glorified those found guilty of war crimes, and those who wanted to revise history to “show respect and understanding for human dignity and to together with the others work toward ensuring that it never happens again.”

The commemoration was also attended by Montenegro’s caretaker prime minister Dritan Abazovic. Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic has written on his Twitter that “it must never be allowed for such evil to repeat.”

In the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, July 11 is the Day of Mourning, but not in the entire territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina, as the Serb ministers on the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina had opposed adoption of such decision.