Clinton: Mothers of Srebrenica speak the truth about what we did not do and what we must do

Former US President Bill Clinton in his address thanked the Mayor of Srebrenica Ćamil Duraković for his words, and told him that only God knows why he was spared when his loved ones were killed, reports the Bosnian news agency Patria.

- But the message of hope and reconciliation that you expressed here shows that there is perhaps some higher wisdom above that. I thank the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina and all representatives of international organizations, but I especially want to thank President Obama for asking us to come today to express our deep belief in the people, faith and freedom of the people in BiH.

Many have eloquently stated that over 8,000 men and boys were killed in the genocide. That terrible act finally prompted all NATO members to support America in order to initiate peace talks and for BiH to once again begin the long path towards a normal life.

We sometimes forget those who were not directly involved how long that path can take.

I am very grateful to the people who worked to stop the war, the killing, to all who worked on building peace. After 20 years, I am grateful that BiH is still a peaceful country, I am grateful that it is close to EU membership, that it is a participant in peacekeeping forces in Afghanistan and elsewhere. I am grateful for all of that. But the work I did here as then-president and later in Kosovo was one of the most important things I have done. I am sorry that it took so long to achieve unity, for all of us to use force to stop the violence. We truly owe it to the people who sacrificed their lives. The truth, mothers, wives, daughters, they are here and as 12 years ago, they tell me the truth about what we did not do and what we must do.

From the depths of my heart I love this place, I no longer want to see such a killing field, nor thousands of kilometers away. But the world is still dominated by killing based on religion.

Someone has to take the first step, as a friend of BiH, I want to thank the Prime Minister of Serbia for showing the courage to come here and for us to recognize that. I ask you that this memorial to the men and boys be a reminder of a tragedy, that it be a sacred place where all people can come and find the future of their country.

It would be fitting to pay tribute to those who could have become mayors, presidents, who could have found cures for diseases, who could have loved women. The only thing we value in our heritage is humanity. We can constantly go from one war to another, one deluded person can kill themselves and others, and all this can happen because we think about the differences among us.

It takes a long time to survive such a thing. We must work better so that the future is better, the sacrifice demands that we do better and we have no other choice.