Obama: We cannot diminish the pain of the victims' families, but we must punish those who committed genocide

US President Barack Obama sent a message on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the genocide in Srebrenica, reports the BH News Agency Patria.

- This July 11, together with people of all faiths and nationalities, we remember the Srebrenica genocide. We mourn the suffering of more than 8,000 victims and honor the memory of those finding peace today and all those who have not yet been found.

Twenty years ago, Srebrenica was devastated. In the genocide that occurred, brothers, sons, husbands, and fathers were taken from their families. They were brutally murdered in the greatest massacre that occurred in Europe in the second half of the last century.

We cannot offer comfort that would alleviate the pain felt by the victims' families. But we must look at Srebrenica openly, mark the anniversary of the tragedy, and learn from it.

Only by fully accepting what happened in the past can we build a future of true and lasting reconciliation. Only by punishing those who committed genocide can we ensure justice to help the victims' families heal their wounds. And only by calling evil by its true name can we find the strength to defeat it.

As we approach the 20th anniversary of the signing of the Dayton Peace Agreement, we recall that the Srebrenica tragedy prompted the international community to act and stop the killing of civilians, to finally stop the war. Today, the United States is committed, together with its partners in the Balkans, to continue helping to heal the wounds of the past. Let us together honor the victims of Srebrenica and their loved ones by building a future in which all people in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Balkans will live together in peace.