Duraković: Dad, Mom, where were you on 2.10.2016? Do everything to make your answer "in Srebrenica"

WRITTEN BY: ĆAMIL DURAKOVIĆ

"Can anyone in the world come and see the tragedy befalling Srebrenica and its residents? Is it Akashi, Boutros-Ghali or someone else behind it, I fear that it will no longer matter for Srebrenica," said Nihad Nino Ćatić in his last address from besieged Srebrenica on July 10, 1995.

I cannot write that to you in this text, but I will be silent for a few minutes, I cannot continue. My name is Ćamil Duraković and I am one of the survivors of the genocide. We are those whom the perpetrators did not kill while we were trying to break through to freedom. All those who did not make it have entrusted us with the duty to carry on. Today, twenty years later, I feel like we are still breaking through, and that we still haven't found a way out of the forest.

There are elections on Sunday, and our lives will continue after them. They are not a matter of life or death for individuals, but they are a matter of survival or disappearance of a nation.

The results of what we will do on Sunday will not be visible on Monday, but the traces of how we will behave as people and as citizens towards the call coming from Srebrenica will remain in our families' stories, something that our grandchildren will surely ask us about one day. If the fate of our city is decided this October 2nd, future generations will investigate how it happened, and where everyone was that Sunday in October. Do not cry for us.

For the past four years, we have spent our time working diligently to attract investments, invest in Srebrenica, and create new jobs. We have worked on infrastructure renewal, using the limited resources at our disposal to help young families who have chosen Srebrenica municipality as the place to raise their children and spend their lives. From 2012 to the present day, we have done a lot in the process of dialogue in our municipality, we have returned to the map of important places, a city of cooperation, conversation, and respect.

During this time, we have overcome numerous political disagreements. We have seen that the citizens of Srebrenica can stand together when they recognize injustice. It was difficult, but we managed to develop political dialogue between different political representatives, and to do everything to achieve the best for all those who live in Srebrenica. We are no longer those who beg for help, but rather those who present concrete projects and seek support to continue their development.

We have become a place from which important messages go out to the world, and our relationship with numerous international delegations, our cooperation and openness, has been a great contribution to programs, diplomatic ties, and the overall perception of Bosnia and Herzegovina's foreign policy. We have done our best to be the best ambassadors of our country, and to always carry with us, along with the story of the truth about the genocide and the suffering of Bosniaks in eastern Bosnia, the truth about the war, the truth about the past, but also positive stories from the present.

The progress is significant, and the people of Srebrenica know this, regardless of their nationality. Citizens of Serb nationality are also aware that the defeat of our politics is a defeat for all of Srebrenica. The departure of investments, new crises and political confrontations, rising tensions and an atmosphere of fear, all these are circumstances that come with such a defeat, and no one benefits from that. Especially when my opponents do not offer any tangible, concrete, and serious new policies for a better Srebrenica. That is why it is worth fighting for.

Our people from Srebrenica seem to be still lost in that forest on their way to free territory. Somewhere between different worlds, from Australia to America, they have found the strength to complete the registration process and will vote in the elections this year. Our displaced persons waiting for the reconstruction of their homes and return will also vote in absentia across the Federation. Our returnees and our fellow citizens will wake up on Sunday morning and fulfill their civic duty.

We will count the votes late into the night, and in the morning our results will not be available, because we will also wait for the mail and absentee ballots, and a week will pass, and Srebrenica will still be waiting.

Do not lose patience; if we have all done our part by then, we will already know if Srebrenica will remain free. When the numbers add up and we declare victory, I will tell everyone that we will continue to work together for a better Srebrenica. We will not take revenge on anyone, we will not justify ourselves to anyone. And we will tell them all once again: Do not cry for us. We have already won our victories through our return and survival on the Drina. Care for the generation to come and your children who will ask you: Dad, Mom, where were you on 2.10.2016? Do everything to make your answer: In Srebrenica.