Friar Josić: Serbia must ask for forgiveness for the Srebrenica genocide, BiH must grant forgiveness

The parish priest of the Srebrenica – Zvornik Parish, Friar Niko Josić, said in an interview with the Patria News Agency that religious communities can do a lot for the reconciliation of peoples. They in Serbia must learn politics on how to ask for forgiveness, and religious communities in BiH should educate people to accept that forgiveness.

For him, there is no doubt that genocide happened in Srebrenica. But without forgiveness, there is no progress in society. Genocide, he says, first requires recognition, and then asking for forgiveness. In his opinion, all those who participated in the genocide in any way must acknowledge it, and then ask for forgiveness for the evil they have done.

- Forgiveness must be sought for every evil that occurs. And forgiveness must be granted. Without it, there is no reconciliation, and no progress whatsoever. There is not even economic progress – says Friar Josić.

- Given that this region is marked as quite religious, it is clear that religious communities can play a big role in achieving that reconciliation – he added.

Today, families will bury 127 victims in the Memorial Center in Potočari, whose remains have been found from last year to date. The youngest victim is Avdija Memić, who was only 14 years old when he was killed. The oldest victim is Mustafa Hadžović, who was killed at the age of 77. So far, 6,377 victims have been buried in Potočari. The remains of more than 2,000 murdered Bosniaks are still being searched for.

Friar Josić reminds that nine Catholics were also killed in the Srebrenica genocide. So far, one Catholic has been buried in the Memorial Center, while the remains of the others are still being searched for, writes Patria.