Dr. Cerić in Berlin: Why did the appeal "NEVER AGAIN" not apply to Srebrenica?

After the genocide in Bosnia, I cannot stop asking myself why the appeal 'NEVER AGAIN' did not apply to Srebrenica, said Dr. Mustafa Cerić, an independent candidate for the BiH Presidency, today in the German parliament in Berlin, reports the BiH news agency Patria (NAP).

On the occasion of the 19th anniversary of the genocide in Srebrenica, Cerić joined a joint appeal for peace and harmony among religions today in the German Bundestag in Berlin. The appeal also marked the end of this year's prestigious International Summer University for Intercultural Leadership, as part of the Alladin program, under the auspices of UNESCO and in partnership with 20 prestigious universities from Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and North America, his press service announced.

- Our presence in Berlin, precisely on this day, is also a reminder that July 11th is the day that the European Parliament declared the European Day of Remembrance of the Srebrenica Genocide - said Cerić in his address, noting that 175 victims of the genocide were buried in Potočari today, and called on those present to pay tribute to the victims of the Srebrenica genocide with a minute of silence and prayer, "in the hope that something like that will never happen again to anyone".

Cerić emphasized that political, religious, and intellectual leaders around the world must take more responsibility, "responsibility to remember humanity's greatest failures and to educate and encourage a new generation of leaders never to make the same mistakes".

He also pointed out that "at a time of increasing intercultural and interreligious tensions around the world, it is very important that we share positive political and religious messages about the importance of peace and dialogue, based on the constructive rapprochement of religions, cultures, and politics in the world."

In his speech, Cerić also addressed some of the most important problems on Bosnia and Herzegovina's path to Euro-Atlantic integration, and the need for our country to return to that path as soon as possible.

- After the genocide in Bosnia, I cannot stop asking myself why the appeal 'NEVER AGAIN' did not apply to Srebrenica. More than that, my people are now asking where the leadership is after Srebrenica? A ten-century-old European nation is a nation in which people are exposed to imposed discriminatory social contexts, in which Jews and Roma are not fully recognized by the Constitution, in which they are not considered worthy of participation in politics. It is unacceptable that now and here, in any European country, any man or woman does not have the right to vote and be elected. Therefore, Bosnia must be among the highest-ranking European moral issues. This very parliament (Bundestag), with all its political and religious differences, proves that the situation in Bosnia, with all its political discrimination and divisions, is actually a punishment, not a solution. How is it possible that such a strong and decisive Europe is not capable of managing change and completing the European project? I do not accept such an idea - added Cerić.

He emphasized that the common task is "to complete this journey and complete it in a just society based on common European values; in a united Europe that will ensure security, freedom, and equality for all."

- Let this event also be a call to all leaders, intellectual, religious, and political, to recognize injustice and strive to bring about change wherever necessary, in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, North America... This message is not only important for an "enlightened" Europe but for the whole world, as we are currently facing violence of genocidal proportions in many parts of the world. No one can be exempt from responsibility for today's bloody picture of humanity, but I believe that the greatest responsibility lies precisely with religious and political leaders - Cerić pointed out.

Among others, the meeting in Berlin was attended by: Edelgard Bulmahn, Vice-President of the Bundestag; Michael Roth, German Minister for European Affairs; Brigitte Zypries, German State Secretary for Energy and Economy; Mevlut Cavusoglu, Turkish Minister for Relations with Europe and Honorary President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe; Rachid Benmokhtar, Moroccan Minister of Education; Turki Addakhil, advisor to Crown Prince Salman bin Abdulaziz and Deputy Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; Getachew Engida, Deputy Director-General of UNESCO; Cardinal Rainer Woelki,

Archbishop of Berlin and envoy of Pope Francis; Samuel Sirat, Vice-President of the European Conference of Rabbis, as well as numerous ambassadors, and representatives of cultural, political, and scientific life, was announced by Mustafa Cerić's Public Relations Office, reports NAP.