Canadian Foreign Minister: We stand with the victims and families of survivors in their ongoing struggle for justice

(Patria) - Canadian Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly issued a statement today on the occasion of the 29th anniversary of the Srebrenica genocide.

She stated that Canada today reflects on the genocide of more than 8,000 Bosnian Muslim men and boys and the displacement of more than 20,000 women and children, who were forcibly expelled from their homes in Srebrenica by Bosnian Serb forces.

"As we commemorate this dark event, we welcome the official recognition of this day as the first International Day of Remembrance of the Genocide in Srebrenica in 1995, following the Resolution approved by the UN General Assembly on May 23, 2024.

Today, we honor the memory of the victims of the massacre and acknowledge the deep and ingrained emotional scars carried by survivors and their loved ones as they continue to try to heal from this tragic event.

The exceptional courage and resilience shown by the survivors is inspiring. As a co-sponsor of the UN Resolution, Canada remembers the murdered and expresses condolences to all who have lost a family member or friend. We stand with the victims and families of survivors in their ongoing struggle for justice.

At a time when inter-ethnic tensions are rising across the Western Balkans, and as Russia attempts to undermine democracy in the region, we commit to defending the full implementation of the 1995 Dayton Peace Agreement and the territorial integrity of BiH as a multi-ethnic state.

Peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina is peace in the region.

As we mark NATO's 75th anniversary this week in Washington, Canada will also continue to support NATO's presence in the Western Balkans to maintain peace and stability in the region.

As echoes of the past emerge, the greatest respect we can pay to the murdered is to work towards reconciliation and do everything we can to prevent such a horrific crime from ever happening again.

We must never forget Srebrenica," Minister Joly stated.