Cerić: Today the truth about the genocide in Srebrenica was confirmed

After several disappointing decisions from The Hague, today there is an encouraging one, said Dr. Mustafa Cerić, President of the World Bosniak Congress, commenting on the final verdicts of the Appeals Chamber of the Hague Tribunal for five officers of the Army of Republika Srpska charged with genocide against Bosniaks in Srebrenica in 1995, reports the Patria news agency.

The Trial Chamber of the Tribunal sentenced in the first-instance proceedings Vujadin Popović and Ljubiša Beara to life imprisonment, Drago Nikolić to 35 years, Radivoje Miletić to 19, Ljubomir Borovčanin to 17, and Vinko Pandurević to 13 years in prison. All except Borovčanin filed appeals against the Trial Chamber's verdicts, which the Appeals Chamber of the Court in The Hague confirmed today, dismissing only certain counts of the indictment, except in the case of Radivoje Miletić, whose sentence was reduced from 19 to 18 years in prison.

Dr. Cerić believes that today's verdicts are important for at least two reasons:

- First, this confirming verdict finally removes any doubt about whether genocide occurred in Srebrenica. The genocide happened! Therefore, all those who deny genocide deny international verdicts, and it is necessary in our country to pass a law as soon as possible on punishing those who deny genocide, because by denying genocide, the threat of a new genocide is not removed.

Second, the victims of genocide can never be fully satisfied. Their loved ones are no longer there and no one can bring them back, but today's verdict offers the victims of genocide at least a little relief, because the truth about the genocide has been confirmed, and the sentence imposed on the criminals has also been confirmed”.

Therefore, today I am with the victims of genocide in their grief for their loved ones, and I share with them the satisfaction and hope that deserved punishment will reach all war criminals”, emphasized Dr. Cerić.

Dr. Cerić also expressed gratitude to the Bosniak liaison officer in The Hague, Amir Ahmić, and his team for their work so far and for everything they have done in prosecuting war crimes.