Inzko: Only the truth about what happened here can set us free

High Representative Valentin Inzko also spoke at the commemoration in Potočari, whose speech is fully conveyed by the Patria News Agency.

- Today we came to Srebrenica to honor the oldest right known to humanity - the right to a dignified burial. Today we came to Srebrenica to remember all the innocent people who perished in this war, because if we did not remember them, it would be as if they were killed a second time.

Today we came to Srebrenica to give voice again to the murdered, in our memory. Today we came to Srebrenica to say again that systematic and organized killing happened here, the Srebrenica genocide, and for one single reason, because the victims were Bosniaks.

Today we came to Srebrenica to confirm: there are no bad nations, only bad individuals. We also came to Srebrenica to thank those who stopped the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Today we came to Srebrenica to confirm the truth about what happened, because only the truth can set us free. Only the truth can be our compass. Only on the basis of truth can respect and reconciliation be achieved.

Today we came to Srebrenica to strengthen the healing process: of Serbs, Bosniaks, Croats and others, but also of the international community, which also bears part of the responsibility, as the UN Secretary-General recently stated.

Today we came to Srebrenica to support forgiveness, but not to forget. We also came to Srebrenica to ask for forgiveness and to pray for the victims.

Today we came to Srebrenica to extend hands and build bridges, not walls. Today we came to Srebrenica to say: never again, and to turn a new page, to start a new century, as the French and Germans did after World War II. Once great enemies, they are now pillars of Europe.

Today we say no to divisions. Today, stronger than ever, we show our commitment to a reintegrated Bosnia and Herzegovina. We also came to Srebrenica to say that Bosnia and Herzegovina has a Euro-Atlantic future and that this country and its people are part of the European architecture.

We came to Srebrenica, all of us from the European family and beyond; we came to tell the people of Bosnia and Herzegovina: you are part of us and we are part of you; to say that, by respecting the dead, we respect the living.