It is unacceptable for perpetrators of crimes to work in BiH security structures

Director of the International Institute for Middle Eastern and Balkan Studies (IFIMES) M.Sc. Zijad Bećirović and Vice-President of the Institute's Advisory Board Prof. Dr. Ernest Petrič received Munira Subašić, president of the Movement of Mothers of the Enclaves of Srebrenica and Žepa, the Patria News Agency reports.  

Bećirović presented the institute's activities in the Balkan region with a special emphasis on Bosnia and Herzegovina and the judicial prosecution of war crimes. Establishing the truth and achieving justice lead to reconciliation, lasting peace, and stability in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Therefore, the effective functioning of the judicial system in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Hague Tribunal is of utmost importance.

Bećirović particularly emphasized that it is unacceptable for individuals who participated in war crimes and genocide to be deeply involved in the security and defense structures of the institutions of the Republika Srpska entity, and consequently in the same institutions at the BiH level. A thorough check of these personnel within the security and defense structures is necessary, and perpetrators of war crimes must be judicially prosecuted. It is unimaginable that in Srebrenica, victims of genocide daily face criminals who, in police uniforms and under the shadow of committed war crimes, maintain public order and peace.

Prof. Dr. Ernest Petrič, current member and former president of the UN International Law Commission (ILC), and until recently president of the Constitutional Court of the Republic of Slovenia, expressed respect for the mothers of Srebrenica for their dignified struggle to establish the truth and achieve justice, and for their efforts to bring perpetrators of war crimes and genocide to "justice" and to have them judicially prosecuted.

Dr. Petrič emphasized that the suffering of Srebrenica was not in vain, as the events in Srebrenica represent a major turning point in international criminal law. Srebrenica obliges us all to ensure that such a horrific war crime, which the ICTY qualified as genocide in its judgments, is never repeated anywhere. Therefore, the ICTY has justified its existence through its work so far, as it is the first such court in the history of mankind.

Munira Subašić presented the activities of the Movement of Mothers of the Enclaves of Srebrenica and Žepa and announced an international conference on genocide titled "Research, Documentation, and Prosecution of Genocide in Bosnia and Herzegovina" in Sarajevo on June 11 and 12, and invited Dr. Petrič to be the keynote speaker at the Conference, which he gladly accepted. 

As a token of gratitude to Dr. Petrič for his efforts as a respected international lawyer and for his contribution to promoting truth, justice, and reconciliation, and to a man who has shown deep understanding towards the victims of genocide, Ms. Subašić presented him with a silver "Srebrenica Flower" award, which symbolizes the suffering and deaths in the Srebrenica genocide and at the same time represents a symbol of love, life, and hope for a better future.

The International Institute IFIMES believes it is particularly important that the Parliamentary Assembly of Bosnia and Herzegovina, which has not yet adopted the European Parliament (EP) Resolution of January 15, 2009, by which the EP calls on EU member states and Western Balkan countries to mark July 11 as a day of remembrance for the genocide in Srebrenica, do so as soon as possible. The resolution, which was unanimously adopted by the EP, emphasized the need to remember and pay appropriate tribute to all victims of crimes committed during the wars in the Balkans.

During the conversation, the interlocutors exchanged views on current events in Bosnia and Herzegovina and on the possibilities for creating better living conditions for the survivors of the Srebrenica genocide, which would primarily involve resolving the issue of unemployment. 

The meeting was also attended by the Mayor of Srebrenica Municipality, Ćamil Duraković, it was announced from IFIMES.