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

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

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

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

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

He also pointed out that "at a time of rising 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 a constructive rapprochement of religions, cultures and politics in the world."

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

- After the genocide in Bosnia, I cannot stop asking why the 'NEVER AGAIN' appeal did not apply to Srebrenica. More than that, my people now ask where is the leadership after Srebrenica? A ten-century-old European nation is a nation where 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 assembly (Bundestag), with all its political and religious differences, proves that the situation in Bosnia, with all its political discrimination and divisions, is in fact a punishment, not a solution. How is it possible that such a strong and determined Europe is not capable of managing changes and completing the European project? I do not accept such an idea - Cerić added.

He emphasized that the common task is "to complete that journey and complete it in a fair 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 for all leaders, intellectual, religious and political, to recognize injustice and strive to bring about change wherever needed, in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, North America... This message is not only important for an 'enlightened' Europe, but for the whole world, as today we are faced with 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.

The gathering in Berlin was attended, among others, by: Edelgard Bulmahn, Vice-President of the Bundestag; Michael Roth, German Minister for European Union Affairs; Brigitte Zypries, German State Secretary for Energy and Economy; Mevlut Cavusoglu, Turkish Minister for European Relations 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, announced by the Public Relations Office of Mustafa Cerić, NAP reports.