Komšić at the Kapija in Tuzla: We have nothing to negotiate, Đukić is a criminal who should be in prison

(Patria) - The laying of wreaths and flowers at the Kapija memorial in Tuzla continued the commemorative marking of the 29th anniversary of the crime against Tuzla's youth committed by members of the Army of Republika Srpska from positions on Mount Ozren on May 25, 1995.

Member of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina Željko Komšić said that Bosnia and Herzegovina has exhausted all legal possibilities in the case of Novak Đukić, who was finally convicted, but not political ones. After the verdict, Đukić went to Serbia.

"In international politics, there is a range of mechanisms used in such situations. One of them is reciprocity, but we cannot reach agreement at the level of institutions on the use of reciprocity, which is normal in any country. Such is the construction of our state, and simply when you are in a situation of working in state institutions that still represent the policy that led to this, then you know where we are. It is the famous story about consensus, cooperation..., but also in some places like Kapija, Srebrenica and a host of other things on which there is no consensus. What are we to negotiate about, about Đukić, who is a criminal and should be in prison," said Komšić.

Mayor of Tuzla Zijad Lugavić emphasized that May 25 is the saddest day in recent Tuzla history and that today is a Day of Mourning in Tuzla and Tuzla Canton.

“Tuzla mourns, Tuzla Canton mourns, and I am sure all of Bosnia and Herzegovina does. May 25, 1995 is the saddest, most sorrowful day that befell Tuzla in recent history. It is the day when, from a single shell fired from aggressor positions on Ozren, 71 young lives were extinguished and over a hundred were wounded. It is the day when the closest ones, parents and families, lost their most beloved, and I think silence today is the best answer to all questions. I want to believe that truth and justice prevail. Proof of this is the UN Resolution on the genocide in Srebrenica. I am sure that justice will catch up with Novak Đukić and all others who committed crimes anywhere and anytime. Only that faith in truth and justice can contribute to our state achieving a prosperous future," said Lugavić.

That May 25, 1995 was also remembered by the Minister for Human Rights and Refugees Sevlid Hurtić.

“Twenty-nine years and I remember that May 25, 1995 because the day before I was at the same place where the shell fell. God decided that the next day I would not be there where 71 people lost their lives. They are in our hearts and we remember them. Everyone must answer for every crime committed in BiH," said Hurtić.