Minister Helez in Mokronoge: The path from forgetting to repeating crimes is not long

(Patria) - On the occasion of marking the 32nd anniversary of the suffering of Bosniaks, the Deputy Chairman of the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Minister of Defense, Zukan Helez, visited the village of Mokronoge in the municipality of Tomislavgrad today.

As part of the official program, Minister Helez, in the presence of victims' families and representatives of political and religious life, laid flowers and recited Fatiha at the memorial dedicated to the Bosniak civilians who perished.

In his speech, the minister paid tribute to the victims and recalled the gravity of the crime committed 32 years ago.

"Honest and hardworking people of different nations and faiths have lived in these regions for centuries. Unfortunately, that harmony was broken 32 years ago. On that day, nine innocent people were brutally murdered, simply because they were Bosniaks, Muslims," Helez emphasized.

The minister stressed that gatherings at such places are of multiple significance – expressing respect, preserving truth, and seeking justice.
"We must not stop speaking the truth and seeking justice. We owe that to the victims and their families. The path from forgetting to repeating crimes is not long, and that is precisely why we must be aware of our responsibility," Helez stated.

The minister emphasized that all committed crimes in Bosnia and Herzegovina must be acknowledged, without downplaying or justifying them. He also pointed out that it saddens him that in some parts of BiH, war criminals are still glorified and honored today.

"That is not the path we should take. A crime is a crime, regardless of who committed it. A victim is a victim. There is no difference," he said, emphasizing that only on truth and justice can a better future for Bosnia and Herzegovina be built.

The minister concluded his speech with the words: "May eternal peace be upon the innocent souls whose names are engraved on the monument before us."