Duraković: We will not beg anyone to come to the funeral, and everyone who wishes is welcome

The Organizational Committee for the commemoration of July 11, 1995, the 19th anniversary of the genocide against Bosniaks in the "UN Safe Area" Srebrenica and the burial of identified victims from July 1995 has determined the program and is working at full speed on the final details of the preparations. As Ćamil Duraković, president of the Organizational Committee, told the Patria news agency, all details have been determined.

- As for the invitations we sent, they are to ambassadors of foreign countries within BiH, and they almost always all respond. It is our custom not to invite people to the funeral. We cannot beg anyone to come to the funeral. July 11 is a global day, and everyone knows about it. Whoever expresses the intention to come is welcome. For now, we have announcements of visits from the Deputy Prime Minister of Palestine, their parliamentarians, and the Speaker of the Parliament of Malaysia. There will be other foreign delegations, such as high-ranking officials from Turkey.

On July 11 itself, at the Potočari Memorial Center – the black hall in the morning hours, a reception for guests is planned, and in the memorial room, the Srebrenica Summer University. The commemoration is planned for 11 AM, after which the anthem of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the recital by Abdulah Sidran – Srebrenica will be performed.

Paying tribute and laying flowers and wreaths for the victims of the genocide in Srebrenica is planned for 12 PM, after which the Zenica Youth Choir will perform "Srebrenica Inferno," followed by an address by Mayor Ćamil Duraković and the recitation of the Quran.

- It was unanimously decided to bypass all speeches, as it is summer, Ramadan, people are fasting, and people are particularly emotional and nervous on the day of the funeral. Everyone is welcome, and we will treat everyone equally. There will be no official addresses except in the sacred part of the Memorial Center where I, as the host, will say a few words, and after that, the Reis-ul-ulema of the Islamic Community, Husein Kavazović, will deliver a sermon, which will conclude that part of the addresses – added Duraković, emphasizing that this is appropriate and that he hopes guests and dignitaries will understand.