One of the police officers from Priboj apologises to 'Bosniak friends'

(Patria) - After a video emerged from a New Year's celebration in Priboj, showing police officers singing chauvinistic songs glorifying genocide, rape and killing of Bosniaks, and calling for Vukovar to happen in Pazar, Dragan Zeković, one of the police officers present at the party, has spoken out.

Zeković posted an apology on his official Facebook page to all those offended by the “song that was heard that evening”.

“Dear fellow citizens, as someone who grew up and lives in a multi-ethnic environment, who has many Bosniak friends, I wish to apologise to everyone who was hurt by the song that was heard that evening and which sent a very bad message. I am especially sorry that a bad atmosphere is being further created, exaggerated and an attempt is being made to make something much worse than it was, something that, I repeat, should not have been heard at this celebration or anywhere else. This song was not sung by the entire tavern, nor by the majority of people who were listed, as can be seen in the video. During the celebration, there was no live music; instead, it was played from a playlist downloaded from the internet (I emphasise that there was no individual ordering and playing of music, nor was the problematic song someone's individual request)”, the police officer wrote.

He added that the happiest day of his life, the birth of his son, has been turned into a negative context.

“The mentioned cheerful atmosphere was present from the beginning of the celebration and was not tied to individual songs. I particularly regret that the celebration of the happiest day of my life – the birth of my son – has been turned into a negative context due to the unintentional playing of the problematic song. I wish everyone much health and success in the New Year, especially my Bosniak friends, with a promise that in the future I will react to the lyrics of such songs by turning off the music. All the best”, Dragan Zeković stated in his post.