Hahn: The 1995 genocide left a deep scar on BiH's collective memory

European Commissioner for Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Johannes Hahn said that on July 11th, we commemorate the genocide committed in July 1995 in Srebrenica, which left a deep scar on the collective memory of Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as Europe as a whole, reports the BiH news agency Patria.

- This imposes a moral obligation on all of us to never forget. On this day, we pay tribute to the victims. But we also reflect on the failure of Europe and the world to protect them.

At the same time, the commemoration reminds us of the need to overcome the shadows of the past in order to build a prosperous future for our children. Europe paid a huge price for the insane ventures of Nazi ideologies in the 20th century. We witnessed the consequences of divisions and decided to unite.

What applied, and still applies, to the European Union is of particular importance for Bosnia and Herzegovina and Southeastern Europe. The future of Bosnia and Herzegovina, as a unified and sovereign state that guarantees the rights and well-being of all its citizens, undoubtedly lies within the European Union. That path to Europe begins with confronting the facts of the past and bringing to justice those responsible. The path continues with reconciliation and joint work on maintaining peace, security, and prosperity.

The European Union continues to represent a peace project and a place of freedom and opportunity for all its citizens. Therefore, the prospect of EU membership for Bosnia and Herzegovina represents a way to overcome the tragedies of the past once and for all. That is why those who seek to undermine and delay its progress on the path to Europe are playing with the future of their compatriots, especially with the prospects of the younger generations.

What we need at this moment is not divisive rhetoric, but unified efforts to reform the country and address acute socio-economic problems, as citizens rightly demand. The European Commission will continue to support Bosnia and Herzegovina throughout the entire process of European integration. Those who oppose this process will ultimately, quite certainly, fail.